Sainz stuns Verstappen and takes pole at Monza

The session at Monza also marked the second qualifying session of 2023 for the alternate tire allocation rules which require drivers to run hard tires throughout Q1, mediums in Q2 and softs in Q3.

both of them Ferrari The drivers faced an investigation after qualifying for failing to follow the race director’s instructions regarding the maximum lap time set prior to the Saturday action to avoid traffic chaos in this session, based on the length of their laps at the end of Q1. . However, with the qualifiers over, it was announced that no further action would be required by the hosts.

In the third section, Sainz got ahead of Leclerc after the first heats – the Spaniard’s 1min 20.532sec gave him a 0.032sec advantage over his team-mate, who was up front and made an easy pull. Verstappen, who was leading the pack with Perez following him, ended up running slightly clear of the Della Roggia Chicani, as he was 0.099 seconds behind Sainz.

In the second laps, Verstappen ran between the two Ferraris – indicating the drag factor of both the Ferraris and the Ferraris Red Bull It was not a decisive consideration. Here, Leclerc led the way for the front runners and took the pole position temporarily with a time of 1:20.361 minutes before Verstappen took the lead.

But Sainz was not denied – having been Ferrari’s lead driver throughout practice and up to Leclerc’s last lap mere seconds away – as he built a stunning late lead to claim pole position with a time of 1:20.294 and send the home team fans into ecstasy.

George Russell He finished fourth, while Perez was only fifth in the second Red Bull car, with Alex Albon sixth Williams. Oscar Piastri Finished in seventh place McLaren former to Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris And Fernando Alonso.

Earlier, Verstappen led Q2, where Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawsonnico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas And Logan Sargent They were kicked out.

The middle segment showed Lawson reaching that stage for the first time in his short Formula 1 career Daniel RicardoAn injury substitution, while Hamilton needed a big last lap to jump out of the relegation zone after the first innings to advance into Division Six of Division Two.

In the first section, which Verstappen led despite losing the first lap due to a track limit violation in Lesmo second, Chu Junyu, Alps Husband Pierre Gasly And Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen And Lance Picnic were eliminated.

Ocon had two dramatic moments in that session – he nearly collided with Norris on the preparatory lap as the McLaren car went into the Parabolica area and then hit the gravel exiting the Askari chicane midway through the opening segment.

F1 Italian GP – Qualifying Results

Q1

Q2

Q3