Lando Norris claimed a sensational pole position for the Italian GP as teammate Oscar Piastri locked out an all McLaren front row for Sunday’s race.
The achievement not only underscored Norris’ burgeoning talent but also marked a pivotal moment in the championship race, especially as he aims to close the gap on reigning champion Max Verstappen, who faced unexpected challenges during the qualifying session.
The Brit’s pole position came with a blistering lap time of 1:19.327, securing his fourth pole of the season and second in a row as his teammate Oscar Piastri closely followed, finishing just 0.109 seconds behind. Meanwhile Mercedes’ George Russell will start from third on the grid.
The qualifying session unfolded under the pressure of high expectations, particularly for McLaren, which has shown remarkable form this season.
Q1: Setting the Pace
As the qualifying session commenced, the drivers quickly established their competitive times with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc initially setting the pace with a lap of 1:20.074. However, Norris soon took the lead with a blistering lap of 1:19.911 showcasing the McLaren’s speed and agility on the track.
Meanwhile, Verstappen who was expected to perform strongly struggled with balance issues and could only manage a time of 1:20.226, placing him third momentarily before being pushed down the order as others improved their times.
On the other hand, his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez faced a challenging session after placing 19th in his first runs before managing to secure a spot in Q2 with a last-minute effort that brought him up to 9th.
The session ended with Norris leading, followed by Leclerc, Piastri, Carlos Sainz, and George Russell, while notable exits included Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll.
Q2: The Battle Intensifies
The second qualifying round saw Leclerc again setting the early pace but Verstappen who was now running on new soft tires, made a significant leap to the top with a time of 1:19.874.
However, Norris quickly reclaimed the lead with an impressive lap of 1:19.727, demonstrating McLaren’s superior performance on the soft compound tires.
The session concluded with Hamilton, Norris, and Sainz all advancing to the final round, while Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo failed to make it into Q3, finishing in 11th and 12th respectively.
Q3: The Final Showdown
The final session, Q3, was where the stakes were highest. Norris and Piastri went head-to-head for pole position, with Norris initially setting a provisional pole time of 1:19.401.
Piastri pushed hard but fell short, finishing with a time of 1:19.436. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, both from Mercedes, were unable to match the McLaren pace, finishing third and sixth respectively.
Verstappen’s struggles continued in Q3 as he battled for grip and could only manage a seventh-place finish, a major setback for the reigning champion. His teammate, lined up directly behind him in eighth, further complicating Red Bull’s quest to claim another championship.
