Lando Norris: McLaren 'useless' at Monza after painful qualifying

Lando Norris branded his McLaren "useless" at Monza after a painful qualifying session left him eighth on the grid for the Italian Grand Prix. The reigning F1 drivers' champion was ninth-fastest but moves up a spot due to Kimi Antonelli's power-unit penalty.

Why it matters:

Monza's long straights and slow corners expose a critical weakness in McLaren's MCL40. The car is aerodynamically draggy, and its gearbox ratios cost roughly 10kph to Mercedes on straights — even with the same power unit. That makes slipstreams vital, and when Norris missed one on his final Q3 run, his chance to challenge for the front row disappeared. In a season where every point counts, this recurring vulnerability could prove costly.

The Details:

• Norris called the car "useless" here, saying the straight-line speed deficit is "the most painful thing this weekend."
• He lost about two-tenths to teammate Oscar Piastri in Q3, who benefited from a two-car tow while Norris had just one.
• On the second run, Piastri's mistake at Turn 1 denied Norris the tow he needed. Norris rejected the idea that the off-track moment cost him time, saying it only killed his slipstream.
• Norris also struggled with a brake issue since Q1, leaving him lacking confidence under braking.
• Piastri, who qualified third, will drop to sixth on the grid after a three-place penalty for impeding Liam Lawson.

What's next:

Norris acknowledged the team must "live with" this weakness for now, but the result could hurt his title momentum. He starts eighth, hoping race strategy and Monza's chaotic nature can help him recover positions.