The Formula One title race has been reignited after Lando Norris secured a stunning pole position for the Italian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver, who has been in impressive form this season, surged ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri to claim his second consecutive pole.
Norris’s pole position is a major boost for McLaren, which is looking to close the gap to Red Bull in both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings. Max Verstappen, the three-time defending champion, will start back in seventh place, giving Norris a significant advantage on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.
Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ standings has been cut to 70 points, with nine races remaining. Norris’s victory at the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend and his pole position at Monza have put him firmly in contention for the championship.
“Another pole which is amazing,” said Norris. “To have two cars first and second when the field is as tight as it has been all weekend is a surprise, but a nice one. My lap, it hurts me to say, wasn’t a great lap. So a bit surprised at the end but very happy.”
The top six in qualifying were separated by less than two tenths of a second, highlighting the intense competition in Formula One. Mercedes driver George Russell will start third, ahead of the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari at the end of the season, will start sixth on the grid in his final race at Monza as a Mercedes driver. There was a significant gap to the Red Bulls, with Verstappen 0.695 seconds behind Norris and just ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.
Alex Albon and Nicolas Hülkenberg rounded out the top 10, while Williams debutant Franco Colapinto will start 18th after being eliminated in Q1.
