Overview

• Max Verstappen topped qualifying at Monza by 0.077 seconds over Lando Norris for his first pole since early July and fifth of the season.
• Oscar Piastri will start from the second row alongside Charles Leclerc, and he leads the drivers’ standings by 34 points over Norris and 104 over Verstappen.
• Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth but will start 10th after a five-place grid penalty for a yellow-flag speed infringement at Zandvoort, promoting George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli to the third row.
• Ferrari enters its home race still winless this season and under tifosi scrutiny after a double retirement in the Netherlands that cut its constructors’ margin over Mercedes to 12 points.
• Isack Hadjar, fresh off his first F1 podium, was eliminated in Q1 in 16th after car issues and faces a possible grid penalty pending stewards’ confirmation.