P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren is not in a dominant position at this weekend’s Italian GP, something which has rarely been said this year.
The McLaren team principal offered an explanation for the surprise defeat to Max Verstappen in the fight for pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, citing technical reasons. Verstappen set a new Monza lap record, while Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri settled for second and third. Despite McLaren’s long-run pace advantage in previous races, Verstappen’s performance in practice posed a genuine threat. The team acknowledged that Monza’s layout does not favor their car’s strengths, particularly in comparison to tracks like Zandvoort and Hungary. Despite being very competitive in corners, McLaren struggles on the straights at Monza, leading to a tighter competition for pole position.
