He is the man of the hour. Pole and victory in Zandvoort. Pole also in Italy. Meanwhile, world champion Max Verstappen is still in crisis and even more so. Things are getting more and more serious, according to Red Bull.
World Championship pursuer Lando Norris is heating up the title fight in Formula 1 with his second pole in a row. On the high-speed circuit in Monza, the Briton raced to first place in qualifying in his McLaren – and with a lead that was frightening for World Championship leader Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman – without a win in five races – could not get beyond the completely disappointing seventh place on Saturday. Verstappen in the Red Bull was almost seven tenths of a second slower than his challenger. “We are puzzled. Something just doesn’t add up,” stressed Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko: “The situation is getting more serious.”
Star driver Verstappen is in danger of losing further his lead over the now five-time pole-setter Norris. The defending champion from the Netherlands has 70 points more than his British friend before the race this Sunday (3 p.m./Sky and RTL).
“It’s fantastic,” enthused the Brit after his renewed pole position. The fact that Oscar Piastri secured a first row on the grid with the two McLarens crowned the traditional team’s renewed strong performance.
At least one Ferrari made it to the second row of the grid in front of the home crowd. Charles Leclerc took fourth place, but he also had to let the British Mercedes driver George Russell pass him. Behind the second Ferrari with Carlos Sainz and the second Silver Arrow with record world champion Lewis Hamilton came a frustrated Verstappen. Nico Hülkenberg in the Haas came tenth.
It was hot right from the start
The hunt for the fastest laps began straight away. This was also to the delight of the Tifosi in the packed stands, who were however immediately shocked when Sainz had to use all his skills to prevent his car from flying off the track after driving over the gravel.
The Spaniard, who will have to leave Ferrari after this season and will drive for Williams, did better on the second attempt. But Norris was already the fastest, ahead of Sainz’s team-mate Leclerc. Verstappen finished in sixth place – things weren’t going well from the start. The Dutchman was also lucky that he was able to brake just in time when Piastri was let out of his pits too early and almost crashed into the Red Bull in his McLaren. The same thing happened later with Sainz. The race stewards investigated both incidents.
Qualifying ended early for newcomer Franco Colapinto. The Argentinian, who replaced the unsuccessful American Logan Sergeant at Williams, could not get beyond 18th place.
The second knockout round began with a slight delay. The track had to be cleaned in a few places, there was too much gravel on the course. When it started, the lead changed hands a lot. Ultimately, Hamilton, who had also set the fastest lap in the last free practice session, stayed in front.
Ferrari on pole for the past two years
A year ago, Sainz made it to pole position in his Ferrari, and in 2022, Leclerc did. Before that, it was Verstappen (2021) and Hamilton (2020). This time, however, it was the two McLarens that shook things up. At the first attempt, Piastri took the lead ahead of Norris, Russell and Hamilton.
Verstappen struggled with the grip of his tires – “shocking” – and initially only finished eighth. But the last laps had not yet been completed. Verstappen and teammate Sergio Pérez (8th) were the first to go out. But it was nowhere near enough for the champion, Norris was in a class of his own.
Source: Stern
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