Lando Norris’ world championship aspirations were dealt a boost after he qualified second for the Italian Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen taking pole position.
Norris, who trails Oscar Piastri by 34 points with nine rounds to go, suffered a scruffy session at the sun-cooked Temple of Speed before pulling out his best lap of the day in the closing moments.
Norris briefly took top spot in Monza only to be relegated by Verstappen, who will start from the front after he edged out the McLaren driver by 0.077 seconds. Piastri will line up in third, more than a tenth back from Norris, with the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton fourth and fifth respectively.
However, Hamilton will be relegated to 10th as he serves a five-place grid drop for his yellow flag infringement at last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Read More
F1 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- The Italian Grand Prix starts at 2pm (BST) on Sunday
- Max Verstappen starts on pole; Norris 2nd; Piastri 3rd
- Click HERE for the top-10
- Oscar Piastri leads the world championship by 34 points
- READ: Meet the luckless F2 champions unable to land an F1 seat
What time is the Italian Grand Prix?
Saturday 6 September 2025 16:14
,
Kieran Jackson
Round 16 at Monza starts at 2pm (BST) on Sunday.
Max Verstappen starts on pole - but the pole-sitter has not won at Monza in the last five years!
Driver Standings heading into Monza
13:40
,
Kieran Jackson
Piastri now has a 34-point lead over Norris after the Brit’s unfortunate retirement in Zandvoort:
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 184 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 151 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 64 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 64 points
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 37 points
10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 37 points
11. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 32 points
12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 30 points
13. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 27 points
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 20 points
15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 20 points
16. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 16 points
17. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 16 points
18. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 14 points
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points
COMMENT: Lando Norris must now change the habit of a lifetime after cruel F1 title blow
13:36
,
Kieran Jackson
The timing could not have been more piercing for Lando Norris. Just as the crestfallen McLaren driver trudged back to the Zandvoort pit-lane, Oscar Piastri was introduced onto the top step of the podium as the winner of the Dutch Grand Prix. The Brit was not hanging around for the national anthems; emotions and those papaya colours could not have been more juxtaposed.
Norris’s cruel retirement from second in the field on Sunday with eight laps to go, the result of an oil leak due to a suspected chassis issue, has changed the whole complexion of this season’s F1 championship race. A gap to teammate Piastri, which was at nine points pre-race – and was set to increase to 16 – now stands at 34 points. In a campaign of fine margins between the McLaren duo, it is a game-changing moment.
It feels like a big day for Norris if he wants to claw back his deficit.
Italian GP coming up!
13:31
,
Kieran Jackson
It’s a big day for Lewis Hamilton.
He starts in 10th, after that five-place grid penalty, but has shown pace all weekend - how quickly can he get up the order?
Still looking for his first podium for Ferrari...
Nico Rosberg on Norris-Piastri title battle:
13:22
,
Kieran Jackson
“When I was the favourite [in 2016], I was not able to win races anymore. I was so scared of losing the championship, it was mine to lose. The other guy is almost out of it.
“You’re so close to your big dream, you make many mistakes. This has now dropped off the shoulders of Lando, he started the season as the massive favourite but now it’s gone since last weekend.
I” think we’ll see a stronger Lando now and think we’re seeing it already. For me it’s Lando for the win this weekend and we still have a championship on our hands.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella:
13:18
,
Kieran Jackson
“It was a very tight session - the 20 cars were all close together.
“Both Lando and Oscar have done a very good job, especially Lando almost finding half-a-second. Good positions for the race.”
“Max has shown in Q3 that he had one tenth more than us. Fair play to Red Bull and Max but for the race, we are in a good position, and not forget about the Ferraris and Russell right behind us.”
Lando Norris in defiant mood as he eyes F1 title comeback against Oscar Piastri
13:11
,
Kieran Jackson
Asked if he believes Piastri now needs to suffer a DNF in order for him to win the title, Norris replied: “No because in the end, if he’s done a better job, then credit to him.
“That’s how I am. I can still win the championship without anything like that happening and that’s the way I wish to do it. It’d make my life easier if there were just some more drivers in between us now and again.
“We’re so dominant as a team that it almost makes my life harder, that’s probably the most frustrating part of it all.
“But it’s still the best man win and if it’s that way at the end of the season, I’ll respect that.”
READ: Lewis Hamilton looks to evoke spirit of Niki Lauda as he eyes Monza spark
12:59
,
Kieran Jackson
By Kieran Jackson in Monza
As ever in Monza, Ferrari’s scarlet-fuelled extravaganza which comes to town every September, the racing team of Italy are doing things a little bit differently. No stranger to audacious liveries and race suits, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be sporting a flick of white on their cars and sea blue on their t-shirts over the next three days.
And in a remarkable turn of fate, this Sunday will be 50 years to the day since Niki Lauda claimed his first F1 world championship. Decked in Ferrari colours, the Austrian legend clinched the drivers’ crown at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Sunday 7 September 1975, to the acclaim of thousands of passionate tifosi supporters in the grandstands.
Pierre Gasly signs new deal at Alpine
12:53
,
Kieran Jackson
The Frenchman has penned an extension until the end of the 2028 season.
“I'm thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine. As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, makes me feel very proud,” said Gasly.
“Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future. Flavio's [Briatore] support and belief in me, François' [Provost] commitment to the Formula One project, as well as the people we have in Enstone made this a natural decision and I want to be here in years to come and deliver on our joint objective: to win races and world championships.
“We're all in this together and I look forward to continuing this special story.”
VIDEO: Hamilton on Ferrari fans
12:44
,
Kieran Jackson
F1 constructor standings heading into the Italian Grand Prix
12:38
,
Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren - 584 points
2. Ferrari - 260 points
3. Mercedes - 248 points
4. Red Bull - 214 points
5. Williams - 80 points
6. Aston Martin - 62 points
7. Racing Bulls - 60 points
8. Sauber - 51 points
9. Haas - 44 points
10. Alpine - 20 points
Starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix:
12:30
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Kimi Antonelli
7. Gabriel Bortoleto
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Yuki Tsunoda
10. Lewis Hamilton*
11. Ollie Bearman
12. Nico Hulkenberg
13. Carlos Sainz
14. Alex Albon
15. Esteban Ocon
16. Lance Stroll
17. Franco Colapinto
18. Pierre Gasly
19. Liam Lawson
Pit lane. Isack Hadjar**
*Hamilton has a five-place grid drop after failing to slow down under yellow flag conditions at the last round in Zandvoort
**Hadjar starts in the pit-lane after taking a new power unit, exceeding his allocation
George Russell, who will start in fifth:
12:15
,
Kieran Jackson
On not having mediums: “I felt more comfortable on it, mediums have sometimes been faster. We ultimately just didn’t do a good job in Q3 anyway, bit annoying.
“I probably wasn’t totally clear enough. They thought plan was softs, I should’ve been clear. Bit of error on both parts really.”
Nico Rosberg on Tsunoda being seven-tenths down on Verstappen:
12:00
,
Kieran Jackson
“It's inexplicable. Yuki knows how to drive a racing car, they can't find a solution to that.
“It's not seven-tenths, I feel for Yuki, this is a really tough day.”
Tsunoda qualified P10, with his team-mate on pole.
COMMENT: Is this the end for Lewis Hamilton? Write him off at your peril
11:30
,
Kieran Jackson
Walking up the Viale Regina Margherita on Italian Grand Prix weekend, a stone’s throw from the enormous Parco di Monza where this thrillingly high-speed circuit sits at its core, you hit a horde of red-clad devotees. From early in the morning to late at night, they are stood waiting outside the Hotel de la Ville – which has been christened Monza’s ‘Drivers Hotel.’
This is where Ferrari, and a host of other teams, house their drivers. Regularly, a huge cheer will emerge as a driver pops outside to sign autographs and pose for selfies. Mere metres away, a poster of Lewis Hamilton holding a photoshopped goat, to signify his status as the greatest F1 driver of all time, is being held by another Scuderia supporter. This year, more than ever, the excitement reverberates around this quaint city in north-eastern Italy.
Kieran Jackson in Monza:
TOP-10 IN DRIVER STANDINGS
11:00
,
Kieran Jackson
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 184 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 151 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 64 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 64 points
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 37 points
10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 37 points
FEATURE - ‘I didn’t know where to go’: Meet the luckless F2 champions unable to land an F1 seat
10:00
,
Kieran Jackson
Monza, the home of Ferrari and dubbed motorsport’s “Temple of Speed”, holds a special place in the heart of Felipe Drugovich. It was here that he sealed victory in the 2022 Formula Two championship. Draped in the Brazilian flag, eyes bulging, his pure look of exultation was not only one of sheer relief, but also of bullish hope.
And why shouldn’t it have been? Recent history showed that triumphing in Formula One’s feeder series (GP2 before 2017) was the natural catalyst for promotion to the exclusive 20-driver top table. Prior to 2022, eight consecutive champions had landed a spot in F1, dating back to Fabio Leimer’s GP2 win in 2013. Yet excruciatingly for Drugovich, raw pace and points on the board aren’t always the No 1 factor in this sport.
Full piece below:
Red Bull boss makes ‘crazy’ assertion on 2026 engine project with Ford
01:00
,
Kieran Jackson
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has acknowledged that the team’s engine project for 2026 is a “crazy” undertaking.
Mekies, who replaced the axed Christian Horner in July, has one eye focused on the sport’s new engine and chassis regulations next year, when Red Bull will take to the track with their own power unit, in partnership with American automotive giant Ford.
A project first announced two-and-a-half years ago, with Horner the figurehead, work continues apace in Milton Keynes for an engine capable of matching the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari.
Full quotes below:
Daniel Ricciardo makes final call on racing career after end of F1 tenure
Saturday 6 September 2025 23:59
,
Kieran Jackson
Daniel Ricciardo has confirmed the end of his motor racing career after becoming a global ambassador for Ford.
Ricciardo, 36, was dropped by Racing Bulls last October, having failed to make his mark and regain a seat at Red Bull. Prior to this, he was also dropped by McLaren at the end of the 2022 season.
The popular Australian, a hit on Netflix’s Drive to Survive series and an eight-time race winner, has been out of the spotlight in the 12 months since, but has now joined American automotive giant Ford as an ambassador, focusing on their off-road Raptor brand.
Full story below:
Cadillac add IndyCar star to F1 ranks for debut season in 2026
Saturday 6 September 2025 23:00
,
Kieran Jackson
Cadillac have signed IndyCar star Colton Herta as an F1 test driver, with the American switching back to the European single-seater pyramid in the hope of an F1 seat in the future.
Herta, 25, has been linked with an F1 switch for a number of years and there was speculation that American team Cadillac could pick him as a home driver for their debut in the sport next year.
While they instead acquired the services of experienced drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, Herta has now been announced as a test driver, returning to Europe where he previously raced in British F3 as a teenager.
READ: F1 extends partnership with Monaco Grand Prix to 85 years with new contract
Saturday 6 September 2025 22:00
,
Kieran Jackson
Formula One has signed a four-year extension with the Monaco Grand Prix, with the race set to appear on the calendar until 2035.
Building on the previous deal until 2031, F1 has come to a fresh agreement with the Automobile Club of Monaco, despite the sport’s crown jewel event coming under criticism for a lack of overtaking.
Two mandatory pit stops were introduced this year with the intention of adding intrigue to what is usually a processional affair. However, teams worked around the rules with a slow-running car helping the other car make, effectively, a free pit-stop.
Full details below:
Charles Leclerc after qualifying on fourth:
Saturday 6 September 2025 20:00
,
Kieran Jackson
“I knew my lap was, hate to say perfect, it was as close as what I would have wanted to do. When I saw that Max went in front, most of the time you do the lap on the second one. I took all the risk in the first one. No regrets, that’s the place we could have done the best possible place.
“Reality caught us back.
After winning in 4th last year: “It will be even more difficult, it is going to be tough to do something different. If I win tomorrow, I’d be surprised, but never say never.”
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies:
Saturday 6 September 2025 19:00
,
Kieran Jackson
It never felt granted to be on pole, we are certainly a bit closer to the fight. It was good to feel it could have happened. There was six or sveen cars fighting for pole, but Max and the team did a very good job.
“We know the advantage of McLaren is in the race, they have more pace.”
Lewis Hamilton, who qualified fifth who will start 10th:
Saturday 6 September 2025 18:30
,
Kieran Jackson
“I can’t even find the words here, the fans here are so beautiful. Here, when you leave the garage, you see them throughout the left and right, red, red. Don’t know what’s possible tomorrow, find my way to wriggle through.
“Yes. You try and imagine what it’s going to be like. I remember when Seb was here, watching him from the podium, but it’s different when you’re in it. The passion and the intensity of that passion, I don’t think I’ve seen that anywhere in the world - maybe Brazil and the Brazilian football team, Argentina too.”
Starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix:
Saturday 6 September 2025 18:00
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Kimi Antonelli
7. Gabriel Bortoleto
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Yuki Tsunoda
10. Lewis Hamilton*
11. Ollie Bearman
12. Nico Hulkenberg
13. Carlos Sainz
14. Alex Albon
15. Esteban Ocon
16. Lance Stroll
17. Franco Colapinto
18. Pierre Gasly
19. Liam Lawson
Pit lane. Isack Hadjar**
*Hamilton has a five-place grid drop after failing to slow down under yellow flag conditions at the last round in Zandvoort
**Hadjar starts in the pit-lane after taking a new power unit, exceeding his allocation
Max Verstappen, after qualifying on pole:
Saturday 6 September 2025 16:50
,
Kieran Jackson
“It’s always very difficult to nail the lap, Q3 felt good, for us to be on pole is fantastic. To be able to fight for pole, I’m very happy with that.
“It was tight. Historically this season, the race has been more complicated for us but we’ll give it everything we have, that’s all we can do and see what happens tomorrow.”
REMINDER: Hamilton's five-place grid drop
Saturday 6 September 2025 16:32
,
Kieran Jackson
Due to that yellow flag infringement in Zandvoort, Hamilton will start tomorrow’s race in 10th, having qualified in fifth.
Tough one to stomach.
Lando Norris, who qualified second:
Saturday 6 September 2025 16:30
,
Kieran Jackson
“Max has been quick all weekend, it’s never a surprise with Max! It was quite a session from me, up and down, too many mistakes, but put it together in the final lap.
“I feel like I didn’t do the best of jobs but to end up with P2 is not a bad position off the line.
“Our race on a Sunday is normally our strength - to get past Max will be a big challenge.”
Oscar Piastri after qualifying third:
Saturday 6 September 2025 16:20
,
Kieran Jackson
“Turn 1 was average, rest of lap pretty fine. It’s been incredibly tight this weekend, a lot of teams look quick, it’s not been as comfortable
“When you’re on the lap, you’re going for it and going for pole, flat-out. There’s a long way to go, will try and make up some spots tomorrow.
“It’s been a bit trickier for us in general this weekend.”
TOP-10 IN QUALIFYING
Saturday 6 September 2025 16:13
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. George Russell
7. Kimi Antonelli
8. Gabriel Bortoleto
9. Fernando Alonso
10. Yuki Tsunoda
Max Verstappen on pole position!
Saturday 6 September 2025 16:04
,
Kieran Jackson
Unbelievable drama!
Norris took pole out of nowhere, before Verstappen took P1 back by 0.077 seconds!
It’s a 1:18:792 - and a new lap record at Monza! Another stunning lap from the reigning world champion!
3-10: Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Antonelli, Bortoleto, Alonso
Disappointment for Ferrari!
George Russell not happy
Saturday 6 September 2025 16:01
,
Kieran Jackson
Russell: “We’ve got the softs on?”
Engineer: “Affirm.”
Russell: “I said I wanted mediums, no?”
It’ll be softs for Russell. FINAL LAPS in Q3 coming up...
Max Verstappen on provisional pole!
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:57
,
Kieran Jackson
Here we go then - it’s actually Red Bull and Ferrari on the front row!
Verstappen is 0.083 secs quicker than Leclerc in second, with Piastri third, Hamilton fourth and Russell fifth.
Lando Norris is down in seventh! He didn’t have a slipstream - and Bortoleto is ahead of him in sixth!
1-10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Russell, Bortoleto, Norris, Antonelli, Tsunoda, Alonso
They’ll all come in, prepare, and go again...
Q3 underway!
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:54
,
Kieran Jackson
Here we go then - the top-10 shootout for pole!
10 drivers involved: Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Russell, Alonso, Bortoleto
Relief for Norris!
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:48
,
Kieran Jackson
But can he get pole?
Lando Norris saves himself!
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:45
,
Kieran Jackson
Tense for Lando Norris, who was P11 as he set his final lap, but he pushes Ollie Bearman out of qualifying and goes fifth!
He even got a tow from Oscar Piastri!
Bottom-five and out in Q2 (11-15): Bearman, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Albon, Ocon
Time for the top-10 shootout for pole!
Norris goes P7
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:41
,
Kieran Jackson
Interesting new tactic for Norris: push, cool, cool, push. So, he should get two laps in.
His first lap is only seventh-fastest... he’ll need to go quicker I think!
Current bottom-five (11-15): Bearman, Alonso, Ocon, Albon, Hulkenberg
3:00 to go in Q2. Verstappen, Russell and Piastri are the top-three currently....
Norris makes an error
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:36
,
Kieran Jackson
Norris’ engineer: “We need to box this lap.”
Norris went beyond the white line at turn 1. Lap deleted.
Will he only have one chance to set a lap, then? Not ideal.
Current bottom-five (11-15): Ocon, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Albon, Norris
6:00 to go in Q2...
Q2 underway!
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:30
,
Kieran Jackson
Here we go with the next-stage of what is a super-tight qualifying session - barely any time at all between the cars around this high-speed circuit!
15 minutes for Q2 where, again, we will lose the slowest five drivers...
Q2 delayed by three minutes
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:25
,
Kieran Jackson
Due to a bit of gravel on the circuit, qualifying won’t start for another few minutes - 3:27pm.
Hadjar out!
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:24
,
Kieran Jackson
Just P16 for the Frenchman...
Antonelli saves himself!
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:23
,
Kieran Jackson
P11 for the Italian but in a bit of a shock after last week’s podium, Isack Hadjar is out!
In fact, both Racing Bulls are!
Bottom-five and out in Q1 (16-20): Hadjar, Stroll, Colapinto, Gasly, Lawson
Big moments for Kimi Antonelli
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:17
,
Kieran Jackson
Two minutes to go and 19 cars out on track as they look to make Q2 - with Russell (P1) the only man in the garage.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Gasly, Antonelli, Colapinto, Ocon, Lawson
2:00 to go in Q1...
Russell goes P1
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:13
,
Kieran Jackson
With the medium tyre, Russell goes top of the timesheet with a 1:19414 - two-tenths clear of Norris.
Is that the tyre to go on?
Both Williams drivers now have a time on the board and are in the top-15.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Gasly, Antonelli, Colapinto, Ocon, Lawson
6:00 to go in Q1..
Albon and Sainz both have lap times deleted
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:10
,
Kieran Jackson
Early track limit concerns for the Williams pair, meaning they’re rock bottom as it stands after the first set of laps.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Bearman, Stroll, Ocon, Albon, Sainz
Plenty of time left, with 10 minutes still on the clock... Norris fastest early on, with Piastri 2nd and Leclerc 3rd.
Q1 underway!
Saturday 6 September 2025 15:01
,
Kieran Jackson
The Scuderia Ferrari flag is flying in the grandstand as we get underway with this first stage of qualifying - with a host of cars keen to get straight out there!
Qualifying coming up!
Saturday 6 September 2025 14:55
,
Kieran Jackson
It’s a big one this afternoon, as the drivers take to the track for the final qualifying session of the 2025 season.
Once again, Lando Norris is the favourite after topping two of the three practice sessions - but like last week, could Oscar Piastri pip him to pole?
Elsewhere, Ferrari have shown good pace this weekend - what can Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc do in front of the team’s home fans?
