The reigning world champion starts a low seventh

It was McLaren and Mercedes on top at the Italian Grand Prix 2024 qualifying as Lando Norris picked up his fourth pole position of the season while championship leader Max Verstappen had an afternoon filled with struggles. 

Here’s a quick recap of the Italian Grand Prix 2024 qualifying session. 

Q1 – Not the debut Colapinto wanted

Lando Norris’ 1.19.91s set the early benchmark for qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix 2024, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc 0.16s behind. As the final runs came in, debutant Franco Colapinto went off, ruining his lap, while Kevin Magnussen’s Haas also went very wide, but the Dane managed to scrape through to the next session.

The Saubers of Zhou and Bottas failed to make the cut as the Colapinto, Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda.

Drivers eliminated in Q1

Yuki Tsunoda
Lance Stroll
Franco Colapinto
Valtteri Bottas
Zhou Guanyu

Q2 – Alpine continue to struggle, and Alonso’s Q3 drought extends

Norris once again set the pace for the rest of the grid with a 1.19.72s in his first flying lap with his teammate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen close behind. While Hamilton eventually went on top of the timesheet with a 1.19.64 the drop zone saw the two Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon along with Kevin Magnussen, Daniel Ricciardo, and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. 

Drivers eliminated in Q2

Fernando Alonso
Daniel Ricciardo
Kevin Magnussen
Pierre Gasly
Esteban Ocon

Q3 – Nightmare for Verstappen as Norris takes full advantage

Norris and Piastri were on top of the timesheets once again with Norris taking provisional pole with a 1.19.40s, going 0.03s faster than his teammate. Verstappen could only manage to get to eighth following his first run. 

As the chequered flag fell, it was Norris locking in another pole position with his teammate right behind. George Russell pipped Charles Leclerc right at the end while Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen finished sixth and seventh respectively.

Starting Grid for the Italian Grand Prix 2024 (before any penalties)

1. Lando Norris
2. Oscar Piastri
3. George Russell
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Carlos Sainz
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Max Verstappen
8. Sergio Pérez
9. Alex Albon
10. Nico Hülkenberg
11. Fernando Alonso
12. Daniel Ricciardo
13. Kevin Magnussen
14. Pierre Gasly
15. Esteban Ocon
16. Yuki Tsunoda
17. Lance Stroll
18. Franco Colapinto
19. Valtteri Bottas
20. Zhou Guanyu