Norris, who produced probably the most dominant victories of the season on the Dutch Grand Prix final weekend, cautioned towards assuming McLaren would do the identical at Monza regardless of locking out the entrance row.
“Truthfully, while you look again to Zandvoort, you possibly can say, sure, there’s sufficient proof to say we’d have a really sturdy race – right here much less so,” he stated.
“First and second usually interprets into a fast race automobile, however there are extra query marks about graining and degradation, and [I’m] slightly bit extra nervous about what may occur. However [I’m] in the perfect place for it.”
And McLaren staff principal Andrea Stella pointed to Verstappen’s time on used tyres within the second session, which was simply over 0.3secs from pole, as proof that Purple Bull have been “sturdy” however that the stability had merely gone away from Verstappen within the closing session.
Norris’ large concern is the beginning – he has did not convert any of his three poles this yr right into a lead on the first nook.
He stated: “You in fact overview issues, and I really feel like we now have made progress to this point with our observe launches – simply crack on and do our greatest.”
Russell stated: “In the event that they make an excellent begin, it will likely be troublesome [to beat them].”
The brand new observe floor has left the groups and drivers anticipating a race of surprising character.
Previously, Monza has been a race during which groups make just one pit cease, as a result of it had a low-abrasion observe floor, low tyre put on and a protracted pit lane, which will increase cease time.
However the brand new floor has modified the character of the observe and it’s now a lot harder on tyres. Groups will nonetheless wish to attempt to do one cease, however increased tyre put on could pressure them to do two.
