Max seventh in Monza qualifying: 'Nothing works anymore'

Published on 31 August 2024 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen will start the Italian Grand Prix in seventh, a disappointing position according to the Dutchman. In a difficult qualifying for the Oracle Red Bull Racing-driver, it was the McLarens who managed to lock out the front grid, with Lando Norris on pole and teammate Oscar Piastri alongside in second. George Russell and his Mercedes will start third. 

Max, who was four-tenths slower in Q3 compared to Q2, reflects: "For some reason Q3 was a disaster. Even though I had two new tyres, I suddenly got so much understeer, and the car wouldn't turn. The balance has totally disappeared. Q2 was alright, even though it was not good enough for pole. But at least it felt better. In Q3 though, I had so much understeer, and then nothing works anymore. It's already been the case for a while now that I have either too much under or too much oversteer, or I have a little bit of both, and it's difficult."

Looking ahead to the race, Max predicts: "My long runs were also not very promising, so we'll see. The problem is that our car has no balance and when you don't have a balance its hard on the tyres, and everything becomes more difficult in the race. We'll do our best. We have to try to turn this around and become more competitive."

The temperature has risen to 33 degrees, with the track temperature hovering at 50 degrees. The first round of Q1 sees Norris leading the pack, followed by Leclerc and Sainz's Ferraris. Max is fourth, ahead of Russell and Hamilton's Mercedes'. Apart from the top three, the rest of the grid takes one more stab at setting a time. Max is on his way to an impressive time, but aborts his lap. It is Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu who get to hit the showers.

At the start of Q2, Hamilton sets the pace, followed by both McLarens, with Norris just in front of Piastri. Max is fourth. In his second run on a set of new tyres, Sainz drives his car into P3. Max's second run sees him with a mere 21-thousandths gap to Hamilton, and he snags second. Those exiting in Q2 are Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.

After the first runs in Q3 the McLarens are at the front of the pack, Norris and then Piastri respectively. They are followed by Russell and Hamilton's Mercedes. The next pair are Sainz and Leclerc's Ferrari's, and, finally, also coming two-by-two, are Perez and Max's Red Bulls. It was Max who had an oversteer incident into turn eleven, undercutting an otherwise promising lap. 

In his second run Max improves marginally, landing him seventh place, seven-tenths away from Norris, who managed to improve on his earlier time. McLaren-teammate Piastri joins him at the front of the grid, in front of Russell, Leclerc, Sainz and Hamilton. 

Contest Italian GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results qualifying Italy: