Max Verstappen's Challenge at the Italian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen, leading Formula One, questioned his chances at the Italian Grand Prix after qualifying seventh. Closest rival, Lando Norris, claimed pole position. Verstappen, facing performance issues with his car, noted the unpredictability of securing victory despite his strong track record at the circuit.

Formula One frontrunner Max Verstappen cast doubts over his prospects at the Italian Grand Prix after only managing to qualify seventh, while closest competitor Lando Norris nabbed pole position.

With a substantial 70-point lead in the standings and nine races left, Verstappen's edge stands at risk if McLaren's Norris clinches victory and the Red Bull champion falters. 'Normally not,' Verstappen admitted when asked about his win potential.

'The whole weekend we've been too slow. Long runs might look good on paper, but it didn't feel like that. Maybe our car's current setup will fare better in the race, but it's uncertain,' he added, citing handling issues that have emerged, particularly in the critical Q3 qualifying phase.

Despite recent setbacks and a five-race winless streak, Verstappen's history at the Italian Grand Prix—winning the last two editions—provides hope. As rivals close the performance gap, he acknowledged ongoing troubles with car balance and understeer, reflecting a stark contrast to last year's dominant 19-win season.