Lando Norris misses golden opportunity as Charles Leclerc wins Italian F1 Grand Prix

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Charles Leclerc took an unexpected and emotional victory for Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix, as McLaren and Lando Norris missed a golden opportunity to take a huge chunk out of Max Verstappen’s title lead. 
Leclerc followed up his home race victory earlier this year with his second Monza win in front of the adoring tifosi. Ferrari’s one-stop strategy outsmarted the McLarens of Piastri, who finished second, with Norris in third. 
Yet even as it became clear that Piastri did not have the pace to chase down leader Leclerc for a McLaren victory, the team opted not to switch their cars to help Norris’s championship hopes.
With Verstappen finishing down in sixth Norris reduced the Dutchman’s lead by an eight-point margin to 62. By swapping Piastri and Norris, the Englishman would have gained another three points. 
It was a bizarre decision on a slightly scruffy afternoon for the team who, as some consolation, managed to close the gap to Red Bull in the constructors’ championship to just eight points. 
Norris, who lost the lead and then second on a scrappy first lap, cut a disconsolate figure in the cool down room afterwards. Piastri, who looked the favourite for the victory for much of the afternoon said that missing out on a second career win was painful. 
“I’m not gonna lie, it hurts a lot. We did a lot of things right today,” he said. “Today unfortunately we got it a bit wrong and myself being a big part of that. My front left was pretty grained. We didn’t expect it to clear up again, which it did. Yeah, painful.”
For Leclerc, who followed up an emotional victory in Monaco, he also backed up a famous 2019 victory with another famous win in front of the tifosi. 
“It’s an incredible feeling. Actually I thought that the first time would feel like this and if there was a second time it wouldn’t feel as special. Just watching the grandstands instead [on the final lap] of the track, it was incredible.”
“I feel he got way too close for comfort. We could both have easily been out in that first corner if I broke one metre later. If I could rewind, I would do stuff slightly differently. But it is what it is.
“Charles won by two seconds in the end and the fact he got ahead probably gained him two seconds over the course of the race. We couldn’t achieve a one-stop as our degradation was too high on the front tyres. That is a weakness for us at the minute.”
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We always review things. We are doing a very good job. Today was not our day and we didn’t get things correct but I wouldn’t say we got them wrong either.
“I certainly couldn’t have done a one stop as a second car, which is tougher than being the first car. Trying to keep with Oscar in the dirty air meant I had to use a lot more tyre. That is just the price I paid.”
One man who is set to miss the next race in Baku is Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, who has incurred a 12th penalty point over a 12-month period meaning he is facing a one-race ban.
“In terms of expectation and the impression of the drivers, and also the overtaking itself, we will have to take a look with some calm, have a review together with them, and then we will assess the situation. And if there’s any learning to take from that, we will take it for the future.
“It’s disappointing in the sense that we had the performance to win the race. But it was a race that was a very close race between a one and two. Most cars went for the two. I think for Leclerc it was a little easier to take a gamble on the one-stop because he was the car following. 
“For us, with Lando, we had a lock-up on the front left which meant the tyre was going, so we went clearly on a two-stopper. With Oscar, it was more marginal, but he had and we had concerns as well, so we went on a two. 
“We thought we would have time to recover the lead but Ferrari did a very good job. Leclerc drove very well, so we also have to acknowledge that competitors can do a good job and make, in this case, the one-stop work. So well done to Ferrari, but a strong weekend for McLaren, overall a very positive weekend.” 
“It has been a huge effort from the whole team to bring the upgrades but also to take the risks with strategy.
“We went through a tough phase with the tyres degrading but we made it work. Our numbers said it was possible but it was risky.
“We need to understand the next two races are similar to Monza. They have no medium or high-speed corners, which is where we struggle, so we might have a chance of winning the next couple.”
“It was a good weekend. The qualifying we were a bit disappointed, even if the pace was good. But the race went very, very well. 
“From the beginning of the season, I think we are probably in better shape with race pace than qualifying, and it was true again today. Everything went well, and when it’s working like this, it’s perfect.”
On Ferrari’s tyre degradation: 
“Honestly, last year it was our biggest weakness and I think it’s one of the big advantages of the team this season. It was already the case last week in Zandvoort. We are quite consistent on the tyres, and the drivers are doing very good tyre management also. It’s a good feeling.
“We knew that doing one stop with the two cars, Carlos could help us on this. He was also helping us with feedback on the tyres. Honestly, I think everybody in the team played their role and did very well, and I’m more than happy for this.” 
“I thought we got the most out of the car in terms of position but not in the way we approached the race. The pace was not strong enough so we had to do our own race and had a bad pit stop.
“I think strategy-wise we didn’t optimise it. Some cars did a one-stop and we did a two-stop which was not the best. For most of the race we couldn’t run full engine power because of a problem so that doesn’t help. All in all a bad race.
“It would still have been a bad race with full engine power but we may have been more competitive. We were in no man’s land. If we don’t change anything on the car it is all going to be bad from now on to the end of the season. We have a lot of work to do.”
Selfie time for Charles with the Tifosi 🤳❤️ pic.twitter.com/WOAshbLLFR
DNF: Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
The Tifosi have filled the pit straight and the roar as Charles Leclerc emerges onto the podium is deafening, so much you can barely hear the start of the Monegasque national anthem.
As you would expect the Italians belt out their national anthem. Leclerc experienced winning the Italian Grand Prix in 2019 and gets to experience it again today.
In the cooldown room before they emerged onto the podium, both McLaren drivers were visibly frustrated, knowing that victory got away from them. Despite an incredible drive from Leclerc to make that one stop work, McLaren should have won that race.
These scenes ❤️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/I5zwlLXP1N
“It is an incredible feeling. I thought the second time, if there was a second time, would not feel as special as the first, but the emotions over the last few laps were the same.
“I want to win Monza and Monaco every year and I have managed to do to. It is so, so special.”
Can Ferrari keep challenging for victories?
“I don’t know. Our package was working well on a track like Monza but whether it will be the same for the rest of the season I doubt.
“I still think McLaren are favourites but we have done a step forwards, that’s for sure.
“Baku is a pretty nice track for me, so maybe we can achieve something special there [at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix next time out].”
“It hurts. I’m not going to lie, it hurts a lot. I did a lot of things right today. There was a lot of question marks on the strategy going into the race.
“From the position we were in with the tyres looking like they did, doing a one stop seemed like a very risky call, and in the end it was right. Very, very happy with the pace, with the race that I managed to achieve. Just when you finish second it hurts.”
Was the one-stop strategy the right one?
“In hindsight, yes. But everyone’s a legend on Monday after the race or at the chequered flag, and today unfortunately we got it a bit wrong, and myself being a big part of that.
“We had everything to lose from being in the lead of the race. Charles could try something a bit different. He was going to finish third either way and picked the right gamble today. 
“The mediums were getting destroyed and even the hards on the Red Bull at the start looked pretty dead. And my front left was pretty heavily grained. We just didn’t expect it to clear back up again, which it did. Painful.” 
“[Of course] Oscar caught me by surprise as he got past.
“I don’t know what I could have done differently. If I brake a metre later, I probably would have crashed.
“It’s something we will look at but Ferrari drove a better race, particularly Charles.
“We considered a one-stop strategy the whole race but it was not possible with the amount of graining I had.”
🥹🏆❤️ pic.twitter.com/dC5sAuHJcH
Lando Norris has brought Max Verstappen’s gap at the top of the drivers’ standings down from 70 to 62 points, but the team will be very frustrated that they did not win that race, despite having the fastest car. Should McLaren have gone for a one stop with at least one of their drivers. Had Norris won the race, he would have reduced Verstappen’s lead to 53 points. Another race this season that McLaren could and probably should have won.
The Tifosi go wild as Charles Leclerc makes the one stop work and wins the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. How has he done that? Oscar Piastri comes home in second with Lando Norris in third. Norris took the fastest lap on the final lap of the race. McLaren will be wondering how they did not win this race with the fastest car.
INTRODUCING YOUR RACE WINNER 👏CHARLES LECLERC WINS THE ITALIAN GP! 🏆#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/9IraSYkbTc
Leclerc starts the final lap and, unless he makes a huge mistake, he will win Ferrari’s home Grand Prix. Piastri is still four seconds down.
Unless Leclerc’s tyres suddenly fall off a cliff Piastri is not going to be able to reel him in. Still over six seconds between the top two.
Luke Slater live from Monza:
“If, as seems increasingly likely, Piastri does not have the pace win, McLaren should surely swap the cars to help Norris’s championship?”
The Tifosi are cheering Leclerc on and Piastri needs to be taking more time out of Leclerc than he is doing.
Piastri is closing the gap to Leclerc quickly, it is now down to eight seconds as Leclerc is trying to hold on.
Piastri is gaining on Leclerc but time is running out. He is going to need to take huge chunks out him but that is entirely possible with such a huge difference in the tyres.
Behind Norris gets the move done on Sainz with ease and is into third. The McLarens are on the charge.
The front lefts are the ones that are the problem as Sainz is the latest to complain about it. Piastri is right behind him and gets the move done into the Ascari chicane. He is over 11 seconds down on Leclerc but will be a lot quicker. Will Leclerc be able to hold onto these tyres?
One down, one to go ☝️ pic.twitter.com/wtsefuAlw1
Ferrari are committing seemingly to just one stop. Piastri is just over three seconds behind Sainz but around 14 seconds off Leclerc. Will the Ferrari duo be able to hold onto these tyres towards the end?
We have just seen an image of the front right tyre on Leclerc’s car and it does not look great.
“The Ferrari’s are gonna try a one (stop)” 👀📻 pic.twitter.com/92LfQ5HnVi
The McLaren man gets the move done before turn one and is into fourth. The two Ferraris are still out there and have not come in for a second time.
Luke Slater live from Monza:
“This has not been a terrible afternoon for Norris has been a slightly scrappy one. It looks like he will close the gap on Verstappen but it is in the air whether it will be a significant gap. A crucial final 10 laps in the offing for him here.”
Lando is past Max – but can the McLarens beat the home heroes in red?🔴 pic.twitter.com/x8siueDhcb
Norris tries to go around the outside of Verstappen but he cannot get the move done. He needs to get this move done quickly here.
The leader decides now is the time to change tyres and, like Norris’ stop, it is slightly slow. Both Ferraris have remained out there for the time being. Verstappen is currently in between the two McLarens, but will have to stop again.
Piastri says over team radio that he does not think a one stop will work as the front left is struggling, which was the problem Norris had.
Hamilton has pitted. Russell and Perez are at it again and the former momentarily is on the grass. Russell goes deep but holds onto the position out of Curva Grande.
Verstappen has Norris closing in on him and he is told over team radio to put up a strong defence. None of Piastri, Leclerc or Sainz have come in for a second stop.
Red Bull have brought Perez into the pits and comes out just ahead of Russell, who he has had a few battles with today. Perez is on a new set of mediums, Russell on the hards.
Mercedes bring Russell in and he comes back on another set of hard tyres in 12th. It has not been a great day for Russell, who started in third.
With his front left tyre not looking great, McLaren decide to bring Norris in. It was a slightly slow stop. He comes back out in sixth behind Verstappen, who will have to pit again. What do McLaren do with Piastri and Ferrari with Leclerc?
Norris has made a mistake into Variante della Roggia and goes straight up due to a lock-up. He now has Leclerc under a second behind him. Piastri’s lead out in front now is just under five seconds.
Luke Slater live from Monza:
“Another huge roar from the tifosi as Leclerc gets within DRS range of Norris for second after the McLaren lost 1.7sec through a mistake at the Variante della Roggia.”
Lando locks up, and goes off! 😳 pic.twitter.com/7ctEgrUmof
Norris has just reported that his front left does not look good. Will he be thinking of a second spot?
Russell and Perez are fighting each other for seventh and eighth as they get very close into the first chicane.
Behind Colapinto, on his F1 debut, gets a move done on Gasly into turn one and is into 15th.
A little too close between George and Checo 🫣 pic.twitter.com/3NVCZsYBeq
“After the strange and slightly unsatisfying circumstances in winning his first race in Hungary you do wonder whether Piastri will want to prove he can win a race fair and square without any overt team orders. Obviously yes he will, but McLaren really need to think about Norris’s championship with Verstappen down in sixth.”
The Australian has great pace in free air at the front and is now over two seconds ahead of Norris after setting a series of new fastest laps.
Norris has been told over team radio that he is free to race his teammate Piastri, with papaya rules. Papaya rules are pre-agreed rules on how the two McLaren drivers are allowed to race. Piastri is just under two seconds ahead of Norris, with Leclerc a second and a half further back.
Red Bull have brought Perez in, who comes back out in eighth just ahead of Russell. Verstappen gets past Ocon and into seventh.
Not what Red Bull or Max Verstappen needed today 😬 pic.twitter.com/29Pv9z465n
Red Bull bring in the current leader of this race for his first stop. He started on hard tyres and puts on another set, meaning he will have to do another stop to put on a different dry compound. It is a messy stop as there was a problem with the right rear so it was a 6.2 second stop. He comes back out in eighth.
Verstappen and Perez yet to stop.
Ferrari have brought Sainz in which leaves the two Red Bulls out in front, who are yet to stop having started on the hard tyres. The Red Bull pit wall will be praying for a safety car right now. Sainz emerges in sixth, with the Mercedes of Hamilton just behind him.
Ricciardo has been given a 10-second penalty for failing to serve a time penalty correctly as one of the mechanics accidentally touched the car he came into the pits and served the initial penalty. The mechanic knew what he did immediately. You cannot touch the car at all when serving a penalty in the pits.
McLaren box the race leader and comes out ahead of his teammate Norris. Ferrari have opted to pit Sainz, who has said over team radio that he feels these early stoppers will not be able to get to the end of this race.
Ferrari do respond immediately but Norris has got the undercut done on Leclerc. Hamilton has also pitted. Piastri has stayed out but will come in at the end of this lap.
McLaren do the opposite of Ferrari and pit Norris. A quick stop; just 2.2 seconds. Norris is back out into ninth, just behind Ocon, but he gets past Ocon into the second chicane. Will Leclerc respond?
Lando pits, and only just slows it down before he reaches the entrance 👀💨The pit window is open! pic.twitter.com/0eM9ATXuZH
Leclerc has dropped off Piastri by nearly three seconds and Norris is gaining on Leclerc, so much so he is now in DRS range. With tyre management so important in these conditions, has Norris done a good job of taking care of his tyres in the early stages of this sprint?
Mercedes change his front wing and he drops back to 16th. He is onto a set of hards and it would be a long way to take this set of hard tyres, although he took a set of hard tyres a long way in Belgium.
The Mercedes driver has damage to his front wing and the Red Bull man takes him up the inside of turn one to take seventh place. Russell has been told to box at the end of this lap to change his front wing.
Checo takes advantage of George, who is struggling with his front wing damage 😬 pic.twitter.com/zA8dwrBaYv
Up ahead Piastri is more than a second ahead of Leclerc, thus getting out of DRS range. Piastri has confirmed over team radio that he wants to stick to Plan A.
So much of the talk going into the race was about tyre degradation and in these high temperatures the degradation being high. However the feeling is that the wear on the tyres is not as bad as first feared.
Hulkenberg has been given a 10-second penalty for colliding with Tsunoda.
We have our first retirement of the race as Tsunoda is told by his team to come into the pits and reyire the car. Clearly damage from Hulkenberg colliding with him was too significant.
Leclerc has DRS behind Piastri but Norris has lost it behind Leclerc. Sainz in fourth also does not have DRS.
A very early pitstop for Hulkenberg as he has to change his front wing after hitting Tsunoda going into turn one.
He took the lead fairly comfortably in and out of the first chicane but Piastri got a great slipstream around Curva Grande to get the move done on Norris through Variante della Roggia. To avoid contact with his teammate, Norris got a slow exit out of the second chicane, which allowed Leclerc to get through.
The two Red Bulls are starting on the hards and Verstappen has made a place up into sixth. Perez, who is eighth, has said over his team radio that Russell has significant damage to his front wing.
Decent start from the McLaren duo as Russell goes deep into the first chicane. He loses a few places. Piastri challenges Norris into turn three and gets the move done on his teammate. Not only does Norris lose the lead, he is then passed by Leclerc beore the first Lesmo.
Russell has damage to his front wing and is down in seventh.
Luke Slater live from Monza:
“A huge cheer from the main grandstands as Leclerc chases down Piastri for the lead at the end of the first lap, up two places from his starting position. Are Ferrari back in this race now? It would seem so.”
IT’S LIGHTS OUT, AND AWAY WE GO! 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴Oscar Piastri takes the lead! 🧡 pic.twitter.com/iTqOqUnoVC
Off we go in Monza.
Unsurprisingly no-one is starting on the softs and it is unlikely we will see anyone on them at all throughout the race. All of the top eight have two new sets of the hard tyres and one new set of mediums.
The top six all start on the mediums but the two Red Bulls on the fourth row start on the hard tyres.
We are not far away from lights out in Monza.
“The balance is a lot more difficult (than last year) and a lot of other teams are faster than they were. It’s a completely different world. 
“For us today it will be more damage limitation because you can’t change the car overnight. I think today will be tough. I think on pure pace we are not even faster than any car ahead of us.”
“Monza as a racetrack his changed enormously over the decades but the fundamentals of the Temple of Speed remain the same. This differences this year have been a resurfacing of the track as well as a reprofiling of some of the kerbs, the most notable at the final Ascari chicane. It is now a corner that flows more with the raised kerbs leading to a less aggressive approach which is also, sadly, less exciting to watch. It used to be the case that a small misjudgment there could spit a car sideways but that is unlikely to happen today. Will it improve overtaking into the final corner? Who knows. The changes are also underlined  with the loss of many thousands of trees that were lost in summer storms of 2023.”
Oscar Piastri has been speaking to Sky and has mentioned the possibility of rain storms which could add another dimension to this race. With these very hot temperatures a sudden downpour could happen. As it stands there is a 40% chance of rain.
“It’s very hot, a lot of unknowns, it seems to me like a lot of the tyres were graining on Friday, and I think if you push them too hard you will be falling off a cliff. Nobody has ran the hard tyres so that’s the big unknown, you may have a lot of degradation on the medium, but if you put the hard on you just keep on driving.”
On the long straight at the start: 
“It will help [if we can get past the cars ahead] but Lando Norris is so quick at the moment, the McLaren is without a doubt the quickest car and they are doing a really great job, but there’s a chance and we will be going for it.
“If we don’t get ahead of the McLarens I think the fight for the podium is well and truly there, Max Verstappen is also a bit of an unknown, it’s been pretty strange to see their lack of performance in the last few races. You never wish anyone bad but it’s nice to be in this fight, and a few of us being able to compete with Red Bull now.”
It is time for one of the best anthems around; the Italian national anthem, in front of the Tifosi.
“Always nervous. A long run to the first corner. The field is incredibly tight so I am not anticipating a Netherlands repeat, although that would be nice. I think any of the top seven cars can win this race.
“The team orders are don’t trip over each other. We have a plan, discussed with both drivers. They drive for the team and are free to race.”
McLaren have at times not had the best starts this season, including last weekend at Zandvoort where both Norris and Piastri had plenty of wheelspin and lost a place each at the start. Being out in front and not being in dirty air is going to be even more important than usual with the heat and potential of high degradation of the tyres. McLaren will be hoping for a good start today and come out of the first chicane in the same positions they are starting; first and second.
“I don’t think we expected it to be this hot. I don’t think it changes much. There are a lot of question marks about tyre wear. It’s going to be a tough race but I’m looking forward to it.”
On whether today is a day to take advantage of Max Verstappen starting back in seventh:
“Today is not any more special and it doesn’t mean any more. It’s another race and we have to score the points we can. 
“If Max is further back, that’s a bonus but it doesn’t change anything. We will stick to our game plan.”
On potential team orders:
“All good, normal conversations. We are happy. We are excited as a team. We want to do well in the constructors’ and it’s just as much of an opportunity for that.
“We have been in this position before [on the front row]. We are relaxed. I know which way order-wise I would love things to be but we are both out here, we are both racers and will do our best.
“We are allowed to race. Of course, in the background and knowledge that we don’t want to screw each other over. In the interests of the race, we need to help each other out and not lose time.”
There has been plenty of discussion about what is the best strategy today? No-one knows how high the degradation will be in this heat. The one-stop is normally the strategy of choice around Monza but due to these very high temperatures some might opt for two stops if the degradation is high.
Bahrain- Max Verstappen
Saudi Arabia- Max Verstappen
Australia- Carlos Sainz
Japan- Max Verstappen
China- Max Verstappen
Miami- Lando Norris
Emilia-Romagna- Max Verstappen
Monaco- Charles Leclerc
Canada- Max Verstappen
Spain- Max Verstappen
Austria- George Russell
Great Britain- Lewis Hamilton
Hungary- Oscar Piastri
Belgium- Lewis Hamilton
Netherlands- Lando Norris
The biggest happy birthday for our very own @Carlossainz55 🥳Send Carlos a message below! 👇 pic.twitter.com/JBAaVU36y6
The countdown to lights out begins… 👊#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/4QljGQ82Jm
“Much of the talk and attention this weekend has been on a man who isn’t even on the grid today. Mercedes unveiled Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement yesterday morning with team principal Toto Wolff talking about how “proud” he was of the team’s line-up for 2025. That came after he smashed into the barriers during FP1 when deputising for George Russell.
“He was also competing in F2 this weekend, picking up a puncture and finishing near the back in the sprint. The feature race was a little better as he came fourth, after a tight battle with Prema team-mate Oliver Bearman. His superstardom has not quite led to him being mobbed by fans yet, with just a couple of autograph hunters around him as he made his way through the paddock earlier today. That will change soon enough.”
We have had two thrilling races in the feeder races this morning. In the conclusion of the Formula 3 championship, Trident’s Leonardo Fornaroli was crowned champion in the most dramatic of circumstances. His closest challenger, Alpine’s academy driver Gabriele Mini, thought he had the championship in the bag with two laps to go as he overtook Fornaroli, who then got passed by Christian Mansell, only to see Fornaroli get back past Mansell on the final corner to take back the championship.
Leonardo Fornaroli is our 2024 @Formula3 champion! 🏆He locks down the title with a move at the final corner of the final race of the season! 🤯👏 pic.twitter.com/Yl9whoPyMI
In Formula 2 McLaren academy driver Gabriel Bortoleto, won the F3 championship racing for Trident last year, came from starting in last place to win the feature race in a sensational drive, aided by the timing of a safety car, to close the gap to current leader Isack Hadjar, who finished outside the points today, to 10.5 points. Kimi Antonelli, who was announced this weekend as George Russell’s teammate at Mercedes next year, finished fourth. Three rounds remain in the F2 championship; Baku, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
FROM LAST TO FIRST!!! 👏👏What an incredible WIN for our development driver @gabortoleto85 in this morning’s @Formula2 Feature Race. 🏆🧡#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 @InvictaRacing pic.twitter.com/PVca87W3lN
I would definitely advise you to go and watch those races back.
Lando looks back at his pole lap 🔎 pic.twitter.com/riKz3e1xbg
“It is another stiflingly hot day in Monza, as it has been all weekend and temperatures are expected to reach 34c. Track temperature just under an hour before the race is already 52.2c with very little wind. Naturally it does not make for the most comfortable conditions for those watching, or indeed the drivers. Pirelli are saying that it could be a one or two-stop race with the former being the fastest strategy.”
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of the Italian Grand Prix from Monza. McLaren’s Lando Norris secured back-to-back pole positions yesterday in qualifying as he looks to win consecutive races after his victory in Zandvoort last weekend. Norris, who will be joined on the front row by his teammate Oscar Piastri, is excited ahead of today’s race despite not being completely happy with his final lap in Q3.
“To have a first and second when the field is as tight as it has been all weekend is a little bit of a surprise, but a nice one,” Norris said.
“My lap, it hurts me to say it, was not a great lap. My first one was. But still good enough for pole and still very happy. There are a lot of quick drivers behind in quick cars, so I am not expecting an easy race. Plenty of question marks but a lot of excitement, I’m sure.”
George Russell will start third, with the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz behind him in fourth and fifth respectively. Lewis Hamilton, who could not hide his frustration after qualifying, starts sixth with defending world champion and current championship leader Max Verstappen all the way down in seventh place. The Dutchman could not find an explanation for why the balance of his car was not right in the final part of qualifying.
“Q3 was very bad on both of my tyre sets. I just picked up a lot of understeer so I couldn’t attack any corners any more. I had to back it out a lot mid-corner and you lose a lot of lap time like that. Somehow in Q2 it wasn’t that bad. I did a 1:19.6 at that point and we were almost the quickest.
“We know our limitations and problems but at that point I think we had it fairly under control. But I went into Q3 and the balance was completely out, and I don’t really understand how that happened.”
Today could have significant ramifications on the drivers and constructors championships. With drivers championship leader Verstappen down in seventh and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in eighth, today could be a huge day for Norris and McLaren. Norris is currently 70 points behind Verstappen but, with six places between them on the starting grid, today could see the big swing that Norris needs. In the constructors McLaren are just 30 points behind Red Bull and could overtake them today with a significant haul of points.
Strap yourselves in for a thrilling Italian Grand Prix from the temple of speed.