McLaren's Friday form has left Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne a little surprised, as both drivers finished well inside the top 10 at a circuit that the team has identified as one of its weakest.
Although it's only practice, the duo finished seventh and eighth at the Italian Grand Prix as only Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull were quicker during the second 90-minute session at Monza
Vandoorne described it as a "very positive start" to the weekend, though conceded he expects McLaren's rivals will step it up a gear on Saturday.
"It’s been a bit of a surprising Friday for us as a team," commented the Belgian. "To be inside the top 10 with both cars has been a very positive start to the weekend, especially on a track like Monza where we know the engine deficit plays a very big role.
"I think it’s been a very positive Friday, but, as we can see, the lap-times are very close behind us, so we need to keep working – to keep fighting for every tenth, hundredth, thousandth we can find – because it’s easy to lose a lot of places here.
"We would be extremely happy if we can carry forward today’s performance into tomorrow, but I think we might go backwards a little bit as the others probably have a bit extra in hand with engine modes.
"But, we just need to benefit from others’ mistakes, really focus on our own performance, and hopefully we can carry this momentum through to tomorrow."
Alonso was also pleased with how the day went, adding: "Today has been a very positive day, with a good feeling in both sessions. We did find some performance here, which was a little bit unexpected because coming to such an unfavourable circuit for us we weren’t hoping for much, but we have both cars in the top ten 10 and this is very good."
The Spaniard will start the race from the back row as he has a 35-place grid penalty to serve, meaning he will assist Vandoorne with a tow – as his team-mate did for him in Belgium – to ensure at least one McLaren starts inside the top 10 on Sunday, particuarly as several other drivers have penalties to serve too.
"Stoffel helped me in Spa, when he had penalties, and here I’m starting last due to penalties again, so I will try to help him as much as I can by doing some towing, and hopefully put him in the best position for Sunday."
