2024 F1 Italian GP Qualifying: Key Takeaways

The 2024 F1 Italian GP will have Lando Norris in pole position following a brilliant lap that cemented his position as one of the best drivers on the grid. The qualifying session was very interesting because, unlike the past few seasons where Max Verstappen dominated, this one was going to be a contest.

In Q3, it was a battle between McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, and the top-six were separated by 0.186 seconds. Eventually, Norris prevailed to get pole by a tenth, ahead of Oscar Piastr in P2 and George Russell in P3.

The Ferrari duo rounded up the top-five, with Charles Leclerc in P4 and Carlos Sainz in P5. Max Verstappen had a shocker, as he only qualified in P7. With the Italian GP qualifying session done and dusted, what did we learn? Let's take a look:

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2024 F1 Italian GP Qualifying: What did we learn?

#1 Lando Norris deserves credit for what he's accomplishing

The gap between P1 and P6 was 0.186 seconds. That's it, It was this small a gap that would have meant qualifying on pole and being on the third row. Every grid slot for the Italian GP came down to a great level of precision and skill, and small mistakes would have cost a lot.

The fact that Norris achieved pole by beating six of the best drivers on the F1 grid in Monza is a testament to the kind of job he has done. There will be a few who would try to put it down to the car, but that's just not the case. It was the driver who made the difference, and Norris deserves all the credit for it.

#2 Lewis Hamilton should be kicking himself

Lewis Hamilton was massively disappointed, and he should be. He lost one and a half tenth at the very first turn, and that was the entire gap he had to pole position. It comes as a major surprise that Hamilton, a driver who has built his career being supreme over a lap, is struggling so much.

However, Hamilton is kicking himself, and he should. A win at the Italian GP was on the table, and now he has made his life much more difficult with his qualifying performance.

#3 Red Bull and Max Verstappen might have to reset their thought process

It appears that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are struggling to change their mindset in accordance to where they are in the pecking order. They aren't the best anymore, which necessitates a mindset change for the team.

The focus has to be on finding the limits everywhere and maximizing everything. At the same time, Verstappen also has to make sure that he doesn't push way beyond the limit.

There was an element of it in qualifying, as the Red Bull driver probably pushed too hard. For the race, he has to make sure that his focus is on getting the maximum because it's not going to be easy.

#4 Ferrari are still a dark horse

Charles Leclerc was furious after qualifying, as he struggled to get anything more than P4 at the Italian GP. Nevertheless, one cannot discount the kind of pace Leclerc showed in FP3, where he continued to lap quicker and quicker on soft tyres.

While a second-row start is not ideal, Ferrari will be the dark horse at the Italian GP, especially as overtaking is comparatively easier around Monza.

#5 Williams will be satisfied with the result

James Vowles has been in the eye of a storm this weekend, and a part of it has to do with the driver changes he has implemented. For the Italian GP, though, he has a car in the top-10, and it's arguably leading the midfield for the second weekend in a row.

For a team that appears to have taken a step back this season and trying to put the pieces together. Williams have done a terrific job.