Italian Grand Prix: Lando Norris eyes ‘opportunity’ to close title gap on Max Verstappen from pole position

Norris, who produced one of the most dominant victories of the season at the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend, cautioned against assuming McLaren would do the same at Monza despite locking out the front row.

“Honestly, when you look back to Zandvoort, you could say, yes, there is enough evidence to say we would have a very strong race – here less so,” he said.

“First and second normally translates into a quick race car, but there are more question marks about graining and degradation, and [I’m] a little bit more nervous about what could happen. But [I’m] in the best position for it.”

And McLaren team principal Andrea Stella pointed to Verstappen’s time on used tyres in the second session, which was just over 0.3secs from pole, as evidence that Red Bull were “strong” but that the balance had simply gone away from Verstappen in the final session.

Norris’ big concern is the start – he has failed to convert any of his three poles this year into a lead at the first corner.

He said: “You of course review things, and I feel like we have made progress so far with our practice launches – just crack on and do our best.”

Russell said: “If they make a good start, it will be difficult [to beat them].”

The new track surface has left the teams and drivers expecting a race of unusual character.

In the past, Monza has been a race in which teams make only one pit stop, because it had a low-abrasion track surface, low tyre wear and a long pit lane, which increases stop time.

But the new surface has changed the character of the track and it is now much tougher on tyres. Teams will still want to try to do one stop, but higher tyre wear may force them to do two.