Lando Norris Expresses Surprise at Max Verstappen's Shock Monza Pole

Why it matters:

Max Verstappen secured a surprising pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, setting the fastest F1 lap in history at Monza. This result caught Lando Norris off guard and highlighted Red Bull's unexpected strength at a circuit where they struggled significantly last year.

The big picture:

Verstappen's pole marks his 45th for Red Bull, breaking Sebastian Vettel's team record. This achievement comes a year after he described his car as "undriveable" at Monza, showcasing a dramatic turnaround in Red Bull's performance at the track.

The details:

• Verstappen denied Norris a second consecutive Monza pole by just 0.078 seconds, eclipsing Lewis Hamilton's 2020 record for the fastest lap at the circuit.
• Norris admitted McLaren "didn't expect the Red Bull to be quite as good" this weekend, realizing their improvement after the initial practice runs.
• He believes McLaren's race pace is a stronger asset than their qualifying pace, suggesting the race could still be competitive despite Verstappen's pole.
• Norris was critical of his own qualifying performance, noting a lack of rhythm and "hitting every kerb possible" that he wanted to avoid. He only found his rhythm on the final flying lap.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the race, where McLaren hopes its strong race pace can challenge Verstappen despite his pole position advantage. Norris and McLaren will be aiming to convert their perceived race strength into a strong result.