Italian Grand Prix Preview: McLaren’s Piastri and Norris Ready for Monza Battle
The Formula 1 circus heads to Monza this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix, taking place from 5-7 September, with the race set to start at 14:00 BST on Sunday. Coverage will be available via live commentary of practice and qualifying on My Newspaper Radio 5 Sports Extra and Sports Extra 2, while the race itself can be followed on My Newspaper Radio 5 Live. Fans can also track updates live through the My Newspaper Sport website and app.
McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris enter the Italian Grand Prix with contrasting fortunes in the drivers’ championship. Piastri, the Australian sensation, leads the standings after a commanding performance at the Dutch Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Norris suffered heartbreak when his engine failed while running second to Piastri, leaving him 34 points adrift of his teammate.
Despite the gap, Piastri insists that the dynamic between him and Norris on track will remain unchanged. “It’s a bit more difficult now, but I don’t expect much to change,” he said. “We’re both trying to be as fast as we can. It’s not like we’ve been holding anything back from that side of things. So I don’t expect anything to change.”
With nine races remaining and the Italian Grand Prix marking the final European round of the season, the championship fight is far from over. Piastri, 24, drew on his experience in junior categories, where large points deficits have been overturned before the final round. “I’ve had a much bigger gap than this and had it pretty much erased before the final round,” he said. “It’s still far too early to be calculating and settling for positions that aren’t first. So for me, the approach is still exactly the same.”
This season has seen McLaren dominate, with the two drivers taking 12 of the 15 race wins to date. Piastri admitted he did not expect such a level of superiority. “The gap to everyone else and the number of wins—that’s probably the most surprising,” he said. “I’ve won, what, five more races this year than I had my whole career. Admittedly, it’s been a short career, but to have that many wins and a car and team that’s been so dominant, that’s been the biggest surprise.” He also praised the car, describing it as “a joy to drive” and relishing the advantage of minimal competition from other teams.
For Norris, however, McLaren’s dominance comes with its own frustrations. “We’re so dominant as a team, that almost makes my life harder,” he admitted. “Otherwise, it’s still ‘may the best man win’ and ‘may the best driver win,’ and if that’s the case at the end of the season, I’ll respect that.” The Briton has focused on moving past the disappointment of Zandvoort, emphasizing mental resilience and personal growth. “It’s been surprisingly easy to put it behind me and look ahead to this weekend,” he said.
Norris remains committed to closing the championship gap without relying on misfortune for his teammate. “I just wish that I can find that last little bit that I can still win the championship without anything happening. That’s the way I wish to do it,” he said. “If I lose the championship by those points, I just have to keep my chin up, my head held high and try again next year. In the end, if he’s done a better job, I give credit to him.”
As the F1 paddock prepares for the Monza spectacle, the spotlight will be on McLaren’s title fight and the battle for supremacy in one of the fastest circuits on the calendar. Both Piastri and Norris will be keen to maximize their results on the historic Italian track, with tensions high and the championship still very much alive.
