In a stunning qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Lando Norris secured pole position, leading a McLaren 1-2 with teammate Oscar Piastri just 0.109 seconds behind. This marks Norris’ fifth career pole position and his fourth of the 2024 season, showcasing McLaren’s resurgence and putting pressure on championship leader Max Verstappen.Norris’ pole-winning lap time of 1:19.317 was enough to edge out not only his teammate but also a tightly packed field behind them. George Russell of Mercedes will start third, followed by the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in fourth and fifth, respectively. Lewis Hamilton, in his final Italian Grand Prix as a Mercedes driver before his move to Ferrari next season, will start sixth.Notably, Max Verstappen, who has dominated much of the season, struggled in qualifying and will start from seventh position. Verstappen cited grip issues, stating, “I had no grip at all on this tire, it’s shocking”. This result puts Verstappen in a challenging position for the race, as Monza is known for its difficulty in overtaking.The qualifying results have significant implications for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Norris has narrowed Verstappen’s lead to 70 points with nine races remaining in the season. In the constructors’ standings, McLaren now has an opportunity to close the 30-point gap to Red Bull.Meanwhile, Williams’ new driver Franco Colapinto, replacing Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the season, had a challenging debut, qualifying 18th after a spin in the final session. Colapinto acknowledged the learning curve, stating, “It’s part of the development process, I still have a lot to work on”.
Key points
- Lando Norris secured pole position for the Italian Grand Prix, leading a McLaren 1-2 with Oscar Piastri.
- Max Verstappen struggled in qualifying and will start from seventh position, potentially impacting the championship battle.
- The top six drivers in qualifying were separated by less than two tenths of a second, promising an exciting race.
- McLaren’s strong performance puts pressure on Red Bull in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
