Lando Norris secures pole for Italian GP as McLaren locks out the front row at Monza. Verstappen 7th

MONZA, Italy (AP) — The Formula One title race just might be back on after all.

Lando Norris surged into pole position in qualifying for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix as he tries to cut further into Max Verstappen’s championship lead.

McLaren, which is also looking to reduce the gap in the constructors’ standings behind Red Bull, locked out the front of the grid for the race at Monza as Norris finished 0.109 seconds ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri on Saturday.

Moreover, Verstappen will start back in seventh on a circuit where overtaking is tricky. The three-time defending champion has already seen his lead in the drivers’ standings cut to 70 points by Norris, with nine races left.

It was back-to-back poles for Norris, who won from the front of the grid last weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix.

“Another pole which is amazing," he said. "To have two cars first and second when the field is as tight as it has been all weekend is a surprise, but a nice one. My lap, it hurts me to say, wasn’t a great lap. So a bit surprised at the end but very happy.”

The top six in qualifying on Saturday at the Temple of Speed were separated by less than two tenths of a second.

Mercedes driver George Russell will start third, just ahead of the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Ferrari had secured pole position for the last two editions of its home race — much to the delight of the passionate, red-clad tifosi. But both were won by Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton will be sixth on the grid in his last time racing at Monza as a Mercedes driver before his move to Ferrari at the end of the season.

There was then a much bigger gap to the Red Bulls, with Verstappen 0.695 behind Norris and just ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.

Alex Albon and Nicolas Hülkenberg rounded out the top 10.

Williams debutant Franco Colapinto was eliminated in Q1 in his first F1 qualifying session and will start 18th on Sunday.

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McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, centre, celebrates his pole position with second placed McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, and third Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain after qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates his pole position after qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car in front of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz of Spain during qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the third free practice ahead of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates his pole position after qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. drove in his 100th run of the season with a solo homer in the first inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Saturday.

Witt also hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a run-scoring double in the sixth. He went 2 for 3 to raise his MLB-leading batting average to .333. He also has 31 homers and 102 RBIs.

Michael Wacha (13-7) gave up one run in five innings to improve to 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 13 starts since the beginning of July. He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out eight.

The Royals won for the seventh time in nine games since a seven-game losing streak as they try to reach the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015. The Royals also assured themselves of their first winning season since 2015 by raising their record to 82-67.

Kansas City entered the day with a 2½-game lead over Minnesota for the second AL wild card. The Royals trailed first-place Cleveland by three games in the AL Central.

The Royals had five stolen bases, three by Maikol Garcia and two by Kyle Isbel.

Mitch Keller (11-10) lost for the fifth time in his last six decisions, allowing four runs — three earned — and four hits with six strikeouts and one walk. The Pirates made three errors behind Keller.

After Witt staked the Royals to the early 1-0 lead, the Royals scored twice in the fifth. Adam Frazier tripled past diving center field Oneil Cruz and scored on Garcia’s double before Witt hit a sacrifice fly.

The Pirates scored their lone run in the fifth on an RBI single by Cruz. They are 14-24 since Aug. 4.

Kansas City’s Michael Massey doubled and scored on third baseman Jared Triolo’s error in the fifth. Witt’s RBI double in the sixth made it 5-1.

Bryan Reynolds and Triolo each had two hits for the Pirates.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Chris Stratton (right forearm flexor strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list and LHP Angel Zerpa was recalled from Triple-A Omaha.

UP NEXT

The series concludes Sunday with Royals RHP Brady Singer (9-10, 3.42 ERA) facing rookie RHP Jared Jones (6-7, 3.82 ERA). Singer is 1-4 with a 5.17 ERA in his last seven starts.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel (28) scores around Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal on a error by centerfielder Oneil Cruz on a ball hit by Bobby Witt Jr. during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Joey Bart fouls off a pitch from Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kris Bubic while breaking his bat during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Oneil Cruz collects himself after diving for and failing to catch a triple hit by Kansas City Royals' Adam Frazier during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) hits a sacrifice fly off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller, scoring Maikel Garcia from third, during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) rounds third to greetings from third base coach Vance Wilson (25) after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)