Norris Admits 'Bad Job' in Rollercoaster Italian GP Qualifying, Secures Front Row

Lando Norris secured a front-row start alongside Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix qualifying, an impressive feat considering his own admission of doing a "bad job" during the session. The McLaren driver's performance was a true rollercoaster, teetering on elimination before a dramatic recovery.

Why it matters:

Norris's ability to salvage a front-row position despite significant struggles in qualifying highlights his raw talent and McLaren's underlying pace at Monza. It sets up an intriguing battle for Sunday, even as Norris faces the formidable challenge of Max Verstappen.

What happened:

• Q1 & Q2 Struggles: Norris squandered his first Q2 lap by clobbering kerbs and cutting a chicane. He found himself outside the cutline for Q3 before a crucial final flying lap pulled him through.
• Q3 Recovery: In Q3, Norris momentarily held pole before Max Verstappen ultimately pipped him for the top spot by a narrow margin.
• "Bad Job" Admission: Speaking after qualifying, Norris candidly admitted, "it was a pretty bad qualifying from my behalf... impressive that I did such a bad job prior to that!"

Norris's perspective:

Norris described a session where he was "hitting every kerb possible... locking up when I shouldn’t lock up," indicating a lack of rhythm. He acknowledged that McLaren felt somewhat on the "back foot" compared to their usual dominance this season, with slim margins separating the top drivers.

• Strategy woes: He also noted drawing the short end of the stick with qualifying strategy, describing leaving the pits first as "terrible," making it impossible to set a competitive lap early on due to lack of slipstream.
• Confidence knock: Locking up in Turn 1 during a critical Q2 lap particularly impacted his confidence, yet he managed to pull it together when it counted most.

What's next:

Norris expressed hope that McLaren's long-run pace would keep Verstappen on his toes, but conceded that Red Bull had "improved a lot from last year" at Monza. He anticipates a tough race, acknowledging Verstappen's strong Friday race pace.