F1 Italian Grand Prix: Who Will Claim Pole at Monza?

McLaren enters Italian Grand Prix qualifying as a strong contender for pole position, but faces fierce competition from Ferrari, Max Verstappen, and potentially Williams. The iconic Monza circuit is set for an enthralling session.

Why it matters:

• Pole position at Monza is crucial for race strategy due to the circuit's high-speed nature and limited overtaking opportunities in some sections.
• Ferrari, racing on home soil, will be under immense pressure to perform, while Red Bull aims to overcome its perceived pace deficit.

The Contenders:

• McLaren: Despite setup challenges, they are considered favorites after strong practice showings.
• Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have shown strong one-lap and long-run pace, despite concerns over ride height.
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull): While happy with the car, he's vocal about Red Bull's overall speed deficit, making a pole challenging but not impossible given his skill.
• Williams: Showed surprising pace in practice, with Carlos Sainz having previously taken pole at Monza with Ferrari. Can he repeat this with Williams?

What to watch for:

• The ability of Ferrari and Williams to fine-tune their cars for optimal low-ride height performance.
• Verstappen's capacity to extract maximum performance from the RB21 despite its perceived weaknesses.
• The battle for supremacy on soft tyres over a single lap.