2023-09-02 17:54:00
The Spaniard delighted the Tifosi on the high-speed course in Monza on Saturday and was 13 thousandths of a second faster than Verstappen in the Red Bull. Charles Leclerc (+0.067 seconds) in the second Ferrari will start in the race on Sunday (3 p.m. / ORF 1, Sky) from place three.
George Russell (Mercedes) was fourth, just ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull and the once once more strong Williams driver Alexander Albon. For Sainz, one day following his 29th birthday, it was the fourth pole position of his career and the first this season, for Ferrari the hoped-for first place on the grid at the home race. “It was such an intense qualifying session. Actually, all three of us were level. I pushed so hard,” said Sainz, who had also set the best time in the second and third practice sessions, in front of the frenetically cheering fans in Ferrari red.
Verstappen is aiming for his tenth win in a row on Sunday, which would set the 25-year-old Dutchman a record. In the previous week he had set the record of Sebastian Vettel (9) at the home GP in Zandvoort. “We’ve made progress, it’s so tight in Monza. I’m happy to be second. Of course I’ll try to win the race,” said last year’s winner. A year ago, Verstappen won the race from seventh on the grid. For the Austro racing team Red Bull it is regarding the 14th victory in the 14th race of the season.
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko took the qualifying result calmly. “The first row fits. Our strength is actually the race,” said the 80-year-old from Graz on ORF and thought of the Tifosi. “It’s ideal for the mood here in Italy.” The team knew that Ferrari would be strong in Monza. “We made sure that we didn’t necessarily go for pole position from the setup. With these positions, we are tactically very well positioned.”
The power unit of the Mexican Perez, who spun on the gravel in the third practice session, had to be replaced, but this had no effect on the starting grid. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton, whose Mercedes contract had been extended to 2025, just like with Russell, did not get past eighth place. Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin was tenth. While the New Zealander Liam Lawson (AlphaTauri) delivered another talent test in his second qualifying with twelfth place, the two French Alpine pilots Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon experienced a disappointment in 17th and 18th place.
In the Monza qualifying, all drivers had to put on a hard set of tires in Q1, the medium tires in Q2 and the fastest soft tires in the pole decision in Q3. On the last lap, Sainz used his good position as the last top driver on the track and trumped Verstappen by a hair’s breadth. Ferrari has been waiting for a win since the 2022 Austrian GP. Leclerc had clinched pole in Monza last year, but the Monegasse had to admit defeat to Verstappen in the race.
In the overall standings, Verstappen leads Perez with a comfortable 138 points and is well on the way to his third world title. Veteran Alonso is already 171 points behind as third in the World Cup. Monza is the last race in Europe before a tour of Asia, America and the Middle East.
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