Max Verstappen, quadruple world champion in Formula 1 title, will go on Sunday in pole position of the Italian Grand Prix, 16th meeting on 24 of the season, in front of the two McLaren usually dominating.
In the Italian Cauldron of Monza necessarily acquired by the Ferrari cause, the Red Bull driver was ahead of the British Lando Norris, the second of the general, of 0”077 Saturday during the qualifications.
“We have made some final changes that allowed me to have a little more performance,” said the Dutchman, who signs his fifth pole of the season-for only two GP victories this year (in Japan and Emilie-Romagne).
Hamilton will leave 10th
Behind, the other McLaren, that of the leader in the Oscar Piastri championship, will start from the second line next to the Ferrari de Charles Leclerc, winner last year in Monza.
For his first GP from Italy in red, the seven -time world champion Lewis Hamilton, signed the fifth best time of qualifying.
However, the Briton will only leave 10th Sunday, after having received a five-seat penalty for breaking outdated the speed tolerated under yellow flags during the GP in the Netherlands last weekend.
With this penalty, the two Mercedes of English George Russell and Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli, go up a place and start from the third line.
Back to earth for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), who signed his first F1 podium last week, finished 16th. This is his worst qualifying result since he joined the queen category at the start of the year.
In addition, the Frenchman has undergone problems on his car before the qualifications, and is expected to receive a penalty on the grid. No decision has yet been announced.
His compatriots Esteban Ocon (Haas) and Pierre Gasly, who extended his contract on Alpine until 2028 on Saturday, qualified 15th and 19th respectively.
For the Swiss team Kick-SAUBER, satisfaction with the return in Q3 of the Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto (8th). His teammate, German Nico Hülkenberg, will start from 12th place.
Ferrari’s dream
At home, Ferrari will try on Sunday to turn the page on a Grand Prix of the Netherlands Cauchemardesque, the fault of the abandonment of her two pilots.
This double abandonment is a hard blow for the Italian team, second in the manufacturer championship, which lost ground to general against Mercedes, third. Only 12 points now separate the two teams.
At the pilot championship, Piastri is 34 points ahead of Norris. The best of the others, Max Verstappen, is already 104 points from the leader Piastri.
