Norris on Italian GP pole with Verstappen seventh

Lando Norris led Oscar Piastri to a McLaren one-two successful Italian Grand Prix qualifying, pinch title rival Max Verstappen’s Red Bull successful seventh.

Norris' 2nd rod successful a statement - and 5th of his profession - mixed pinch Verstappen's difficult session, was precisely what nan Briton needed arsenic he seeks to adjacent nan 70-point spread to nan Dutchman successful nan championship.

George Russell took 3rd for Mercedes, up of nan Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz and team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull had Sergio Perez sacrifice his last thigh to springiness Verstappen a tow connected nan tally down to Parabolica connected his last lap, successful a vain effort to vault up nan grid.

But it succeeded only successful getting Verstappen up of Perez, pinch nan McLarens, Ferraris and Mercedes retired of scope connected different play of struggle for nan world champions, who look to person mislaid their measurement pinch their once-dominant car.

Perez, who had been faster than Verstappen connected his first thigh successful last qualifying, ran wide astatine nan 2nd Lesmo corner, ruining his ain thigh earlier helping Verstappen.

Norris hit Piastri by conscionable 0.035secs connected his first thigh successful nan top-10 shootout, and managed to amended his clip connected his 2nd effort contempt not being happy pinch his lap, while Piastri did not. Norris ended up connected rod by 0.109secs.

"To person a first and 2nd erstwhile nan section is arsenic tight arsenic it has been each play is simply a small spot of a surprise, but a bully one," Norris said.

"My lap, it hurts maine to opportunity it, was not a awesome lap. My first 1 was. But still bully capable for rod and still very happy.

"There are a batch of speedy drivers down successful speedy cars, truthful I americium not expecting an easy race. Plenty of mobility marks but a batch of excitement, I'm sure."

Russell, who was 0.113secs disconnected pole, said: "A small spot amended than I expected. It was a really reliable session. Not excessively acold down nan McLarens, they are truthful accelerated astatine nan moment, I americium super-happy pinch third.

"I deliberation it's going to beryllium a tight battle, everyone is truthful adjacent retired there, truthful breathtaking for F1, everyone's been waiting for this."

Verstappen was complaining astir a deficiency of grip for nan full session, astatine 1 constituent describing his car arsenic "shocking". He faces an uphill conflict trying to limit nan harm Norris could inflict successful nan race.

More to follow.