Norris takes Italian GP pole as Verstappen qualifies seventh

McLaren’s Lando Norris has the competitive advantage for the Italian Grand Prix as the Briton took pole position whereas Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen qualified seventh. 

Feature image credit: McLaren F1

There has been a lot of talk about Verstappen’s and Norris’ potential as they look to edge closer to a thrilling championship fight, and the Italian GP will add fuel to the fire. 

Norris took his fifth career – and second consecutive – pole position at the end of qualifying for the Italian GP. 

The Briton initially thought he had messed up his final lap until his race engineer, Will Joseph, confirmed he had sealed pole position. 

At the same time, Verstappen lacked grip in the final third and only managed to best a seventh-place start on Sunday’s grid improved from his initial eighth place, after his first lap in Q3. 

“Another pole which is amazing” commented Norris in Parc Ferme “Like Oscar said, to have two cars first and second when the field has been as tight as it has all weekend is a little bit of a surprise but a nice one. Big well done to the team they’ve done an amazing job.”

Going into Sunday’s race, the competitive edge would fall into Norris’ lap as a result of the significant gap between the two championship contenders. 

As it stands, Norris is 70 points behind Verstappen in the championship standings and he will – albeit a good start off the line – have clean air from the front whereas Verstappen will have to fight through the top six drivers.

However, Norris’ starting position is not just a benefit for the driver: it’s a benefit for McLaren too. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured a P2 start and will give McLaren their first front-row lock out since Hungary. 

This will benefit the team’s opportunity in the constructors championship as they trail Red Bull – who will start seventh and eighth – by 30 points in the standings. 

It means, mathematically, McLaren could lead the constructors championship after the chequered flag tomorrow.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Hamilton fastest in Italian GP final practice in unaffected session
• Antonelli to join Mercedes in 2025 as Hamilton replacement
• Hamilton quickest in Italian GP FP2 after Magnussen crash
• Verstappen tops FP1 in Italian GP as Antonelli crashes
• F1 Safety Car involved in bizarre Monza accident
• Has the writing been on the wall since Australia for Logan Sargeant?

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.