Lando Norris Claims Italian GP Pole As Mercedes Is Set To Replace Lewis Hamilton With Andrea Kimi Next Season

 

Lando Norria has emerged as the pole-sitter for McLaren for the second time in a row and the first time for team in Monza since 2012. Meanwhile, the F1 defending champion, Max Verstappen will be starting in P7 - his lowest since 2022. 

Ahead of the session, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had announced that Lewis Hamilton will be replaced by an Italian rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli when he leaves the team to join Ferarri next season. Hamilton, who had not poled at Monza since 2020, initially was doing impressively well at the practice session but couldn't live up to that at the qualifying and will be starting in P6 on Sunday. 

"I don't want to it as his replacement. I'm just the next driver for Mercedes in '25," said Andrea who just turned 18 a week ago. 

Norris also claimed pole at the Dutch GP and won the race for his second victory this season. He also is the strongest contender against Verstappen for the F1 Championship title: he trails the Dutch by 70 points in F1 driver's standings. He dominated the Q3 of the session to clinch the pole followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri in P2. 

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