Will Monza 2024 Be A Forgettable Contest For Max Verstappen?

When Lando Norris was asked upon the completion of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix qualifying about his thoughts, then the pole sitter at Monza said the following:

“I would say more satisfying than last weekend.” This, in an essence, summed up the spectacular qualifying performance of one of F1’s best current drivers who zoomed past tens of hundreds of Tifosi putting on top his sensational McLaren machine.

In so doing, he jilted Max Verstappen, still very much the defending champion of the current season as also the man with most points against his name in 2024. Moreover, Norris trumped his Australian teammate, Oscar Piastri and left ever so little for the two Ferrari drivers at their constructor’s home ground: be it Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz Jr.

But the real difference, if one could put it that way, between the Dutch GP pole claimed by Norris and the one a few hours ago here at Monza was that unlike the previous Grand Prix, Verstappen was still in touching distance of the young Briton. As a matter of fact, even more the race at Zandvoort could reach the second corner, Max Verstappen had snatched the lead of the contest thanks to his sensational pace and ever resolute commitment at the start of the race.

Max Verstappen no longer the executor of the Mad Max assault?

This time, however, Lando Norris would feel a lot lighter than he felt at the Dutch Grand Prix. For starters, Max is even behind the two Mercedes’ and the two Ferrari cars, what’s going to perhaps play well into the McLaren man’s hands is that it is his teammate who’s second on the grid; not even the driver in the other Red Bull.

Even as Max Verstappen still has that enviable 70-point lead on the Drivers’ standings, which if you think about it, is no dainty number, it still is a sizeable lead and should offer the 2021 World champion something to cheer about.

Although, not holding onto pole, which was also the case at his home GP event at Zandvoort must surely hurt the mega talented driver born in Hasselt.

Having said that, in more ways than one does the race at Monza now seemingly belong to Lando Norris. As a matter of fact, it is Lando’s race to lose- is it not?

Max Verstappen on seventh on the grid is perhaps as way back down the order as it the knee from the nose.

Isn’t that the case?

But then having said so, what ought to be remembered is that Formula 1 has less of a space for whims and fancies and cares ever so little for the presupposed. It’s one thing to take pole; this being Lando Norris’s fifth career pole and his first at Monza.

But when it comes to acing the temple of speed, the racer who conducts himself like the high priest of terrific car control and sensational reflexes will go all the way.

Anything can happen, it’s all to play for.

Surely, Max Verstappen’s going to feel that 2023 at Monza was a whole different feeling to the P7 where he finds himself at this point in time.