Norris to Weigh Up Title 'Risk' Amid 'Big' Verstappen Challenge at Monza

Why it matters:

Lando Norris secured a crucial second-place start for the Italian Grand Prix, positioning himself to challenge pole-sitter Max Verstappen for victory. This race is vital for Norris to reignite his championship campaign against McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, especially after a recent setback.

The details:

• Norris missed pole position at Monza, F1's fastest track, by a mere 0.077 seconds to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen during a closely fought qualifying session.
• Crucially, he outqualified championship leader Oscar Piastri by one place. Piastri's advantage over Norris had grown to 34 points after the Briton retired from the previous Dutch Grand Prix.
• Norris admitted he was pleased to salvage second, considering his qualifying performance prior to his final Q3 lap was "pretty bad." He made significant gains, improving by "six tenths or something," on his decisive last attempt.
• Despite his strong starting position, Norris acknowledges the formidable challenge from Verstappen and Red Bull's strong race pace. He stated, "Their pace was also very strong... I don't expect any magical things."
• He also anticipates pressure from behind, with Ferrari cars expected to push hard.

Looking ahead:

Norris recognizes the need to balance risk and caution given his championship situation. He commented, "I know at times I've got to take more risks now, at times I still need to be cautious, but I'll make those decisions when I need to."

He expects a "tough challenge" from Verstappen, particularly for a win, but remains optimistic about opportunities through the first lap, strategy, or by finding a bit more pace during the race.