Max Verstappen 7th, an opportunity for McLaren ahead of the race

We did not expect him to go that far. Max Verstappen’s result in qualifying is a small surprise. The Dutch driver finished in an unusual position for him in recent seasons: seventh.

In his two Q3 runs, the Red Bull driver messed up. Either in the Parabolic or in the Lesmo. Mistakes that cost him valuable time. And therefore a good place on the starting grid.

A new comeback from Max Verstappen?

Facing in-shape McLarens aiming for both the constructors’ and drivers’ titles, this race in Italy could be a golden opportunity. “It’s a very good opportunity for us,” summarizes Lando Norris. But for that to happen, the two drivers from the Woking team will have to work together and block the pack coming from behind.

The Briton, however, is wary of the pace of the Red Bull which is quite good. His championship rival has shown interesting lap times in race pace, as well as with worn tires. He has shown moments of speed in qualifying. Several times this season, the three-time world champion has shown that overtaking was not a problem. This was demonstrated by his result in Spa a few weeks ago. While starting from 11th place, he finished ahead of McLaren number 4, which had started from fourth position.

McLaren, the team to beat for George Russell

At Monza, the first corner is very far from the pole position. With the slipstream effect, other drivers could take advantage of it. To prevent them from passing, the two McLarens will have to form a barrier and then agree on this first chicane.

Zak Brown’s men will have to keep an eye on the Mercedes, which have been strong all weekend. George Russell’s third position in qualifying is there to prove it. The Briton also has McLaren in his sights. It’s exciting to see such a close field. To beat them tomorrow, a good start will be needed. It’s really the team to beat, he assured in a press conference.

The Ferraris will also be lying in wait. Driven by their fans, the prancing horse cars could achieve great things. At Zandvoort, they had been much stronger in the race than during the quick lap exercise. So, they too can be part of the equation for the win.

If the McLarens manage to contain the Ferraris and the Mercedes, Max Verstappen could have four or even five cars between him and Lando Norris. This could make him lose a significant number of points. With the end of the season approaching and Red Bull no longer as dominant as before, Monza could be a turning point for the end of the championship.