# McLaren and Ferrari face qualifying struggles at Monza

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mclaren-resurgence-in-2026-f1
> Updated: 2026-08-26T06:46:00.000Z. Sources: 75. Developments: 5.

McLaren’s recent momentum has faced challenges during the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza. Following a period of resurgence marked by Lando Norris’s consecutive wins in Hungary and Zandvoort, the team has struggled with the MCL40’s performance in Italy.

During qualifying, Norris expressed significant frustration regarding the car’s lack of straight-line speed and aerodynamic efficiency. He noted difficulties with car balance and braking confidence, ultimately qualifying ninth. Due to a penalty issued to teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris moved up to eighth on the starting grid. Ferrari also faced difficulties during the session, with Lewis Hamilton qualifying fourth following Piastri’s penalty.

Following the race, Norris highlighted a significant performance gap between McLaren and Mercedes. Despite the team's recent successes, Norris and Piastri finished fourth and fifth, trailing the Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell by nearly 20 seconds. Norris stated that Mercedes appeared to be in a ‘different category’ on this specific circuit, particularly in high-speed sections and heavy braking zones, while also acknowledging Red Bull’s superior performance on this track type.

Norris also addressed late-race tension involving a duel with Piastri for fourth place. After an aggressive overtaking attempt resulted in Norris driving through the grass, he initially expressed frustration over the radio. He later clarified that the move was correct and that any perceived contact was merely a ‘matter of perception at high speeds.’

## Claims

- Lando Norris won the Dutch Grand Prix. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Lando Norris secured pole position for the race. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Kimi Antonelli finished in second place. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Kimi Antonelli holds a 59-point lead in the championship. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Max Verstappen crashed on the opening lap of the race. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Liam Lawson finished the race in seventh place. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- George Russell followed team orders to let Kimi Antonelli through. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: Nico Rosberg warns Mercedes of McLaren's rising pace

Nico Rosberg warns Mercedes of a challenging season end as McLaren's Lando Norris shows superior pace following consecutive wins in Hungary and the Netherlands.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nico-rosberg-warns-mercedes-of-mclarens-rising-pace

### 2026-08-23: Lando Norris wins F1 Dutch Grand Prix with back-to-back victories

Lando Norris won the F1 Dutch Grand Prix, securing back-to-back victories. Despite the win, he warned McLaren that the MCL40 needs low-speed development to maintain a title challenge against Kimi Antonelli.

65 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lando-norris-wins-dutch-grand-prix-at-zandvoort-4

### 2026-08-13: McLaren driver dynamics discussed after Hungarian Grand Prix

Christian Danner discusses McLaren's driver dynamics following the Hungarian Grand Prix, stating Lando Norris is faster than Oscar Piastri.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mclaren-driver-dynamics-discussed-after-hungarian-grand-prix

### 2026-08-05: McLaren wins Hungarian Grand Prix as Lando Norris triumphs, Wolff comments

McLaren's Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix after major MCL40 upgrades; Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praised the progress but warned against over‑confidence, while team chief Andrea Stella highlighted the “

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mclarens-hungarian-gp-win-draws-comments-from-mercedes-toto-wolff

### 2026-08-01: Lando Norris Wins Hungarian GP as McLaren Upgrade Shifts F1 Balance

Lando Norris won the Hungarian GP, McLaren’s upgrade and his skill driving the win, while Mercedes praised the upgrade but highlighted Norris’s performance; teammate Piastri retired after a gearbox failure.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lando-norris-wins-hungarian-grand-prix-as-mclaren-outpaces-mercedes

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Cite as: McLaren and Ferrari face qualifying struggles at Monza. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mclaren-resurgence-in-2026-f1