Piastri spies Italian GP opportunity despite Norris defeat

Oscar Piastri has spied an opportunity in the Italian Grand Prix, despite losing the season-long qualifying battle to Lando Norris at Monza. 

Norris banked a fourth pole of the F1 season in qualifying, with Piastri riding shotgun on the front-row - the second time McLaren has locked it out in 2024 following Hungary. 

In losing out to Norris by a tenth, Piastri has lost the head-to-head qualifying battle for the season, but is still spying an opportunity given the long run to Turn 1 at Monza and the fact that Norris has yet to lead Lap 1 from any of his pole positions in grands prix or sprints.

"I mean starting a bit further up the grid than last week is definitely a positive for myself, and it is obviously a long run down to Turn 1," he said. 

"So starting second is not always the worst thing. 

"The first lap in Q3 was quite good, just the second was not quite good enough, which I feel like I've said a few too many times this year. 

"It was a good performance and a really good team effort."

McLaren's challenge

McLaren was able to overcome the tight battle with Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull to bank the one-two, with Piastri feeling it is "amazing" to do so given the challenges.

"The field has been incredibly tight this weekend, and I think I said on the radio that there was no guarantee of a front-row lockout for us," he added.

"It is an amazing effort to be able to pull that off. 

"It's been a bit different to what we've been used to at Monza, so it could be a pretty exciting race, and with such a tight field at the front, it will be very exciting."