Lando Norris put himself on pole position for the Italian Grand Prix to press his world championship claims in a McLaren front-row lockout – with Max Verstappen starting seventh.
The British driver desperately needs another win to go with his success in Holland seven days ago. That narrowed his deficit to Max Verstappen to 70 points with 258 still on offer across nine grands prix and three sprint races.
Beating the Red Bulls at Monza’s Temple of Speed – a track that should suit the defending champion’s car – would be a major tonic to Norris’s title prospects. He qualified 0.109sec ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri.
‘Another pole which is amazing,’ said Norris. ‘To have two cars first and second when the field has been as tight as it has been this weekend is surprising.
‘It hurts me to say it but my lap was not great. However, it was still good enough for pole, so I was surprised, but happy.
McLaren ace Lando Norris put himself on pole position for the Italian Grand Prix
Norris desperately needs another win to go with his success in Holland seven days ago
Norris is piling the pressure on championship leader Max Verstappen who will start seventh
‘I am not expecting an easy race tomorrow. There will be plenty of question marks but plenty of excitement, too.’
And the chances of Norris registering a landmark win in Sunday’s 53-lap race were helped by Verstappen’s dire afternoon. ‘No f****** grip,’ complained the Dutchman. ‘Shocking.’ He was nearly seven-tenths off Norris – a massive margin – after a terrible final lap. He did not improve his time, which was no great shakes anyway.
Verstappen’s world championship defence is in danger of falling around his ears as Red Bull struggle to reassert the dominance that looked to be untouchable in the opening rounds of the season.
Verstappen has not won for five races – his longest winless streak since 2020.
Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri (pictured) secured a front row lockout for the team
Verstappen complained about his Red Bull car’s lack of grip on the Italian race circuit
It was a moderately disappointing day for Ferrari in front of the Tifosi. Despite a major upgrade package, they were could not penetrate the front row. Charles Leclerc was fourth quickest and Carlos Sainz fifth – both behind Mercedes’ George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton was sixth fastest.
Williams rushed in Franco Colapinta to replace accident-prone Logan Sargeant, who planted his car in the wall at Zandvoort.
The 21-year-old Argentine could only manage 18th quickest in his first competitive Formula One action, a long way behind his team-mate Alex Albon, who qualified ninth.