Leclerc clinches Monza pole with Verstappen and Sainz among nine with penalties

Ferrari
head
into
the
Italian
Grand
Prix
under
immense
pressure
following
a
number
of
disappointments
this
season,
derailing
their
hopes
of
a
title,
but
Leclerc
was
able
to
perform
in
front
of
the
Tifosi.

Leclerc
was
favourite
to
start
at
the
front
of
the
grid
due
to
a
wealth
of
penalties
being
issued
for
Sunday’s
race
but
did
not
require
such
an
elevation,
securing
pole
position
on
his
own
merit
ahead
of
Max
Verstappen.

The
championship
leader
is
among
nine
drivers
taking
penalties
at
Monza,
along
with
team-mate
Sergio
Perez,
Carlos
Sainz,
Lewis
Hamilton,
Valtteri
Bottas,
Yuki
Tsunoda
and
Mick
Schumacher,
four
of
whom
progressed
to
Q3.

That
meant
the
qualifying
standings
would
be
significantly
different
to
the
starting
grid
on
Sunday,
bringing
back
memories
of
the
Belgian
Grand
Prix
two
weeks
ago.

Leclerc
took
victory
at
Monza
in
2019
and
is
hopeful
of
emulating
that
display
in
2022,
which
would
bring
an
end
to
Verstappen’s
run
of
four
back-to-back
victories.

“It
is
amazing.
It
wasn’t
an
easy
qualifying
session
but
I
knew
we
had
the
potential
in
the
car,”
Verstappen
said.

“In
this
last
lap
in
Q3
I
had
to
put
everything
together
and
I
managed
to
do
it.
Very
happy
with
the
lap
and
very
happy
with
the
performance.
I
hope
we
can
do
just
like
2019
tomorrow.”

Verstappen
explained
why
he
may
have
seemed
slower
than
some
anticipated
for
the
qualifying
session,
with
changes
to
the
car
aimed
to
boost
a
potential
rise
through
the
pack
on
Sunday.

“It
was
close
but
of
course
we
chose
to
go
for
a
little
bit
more
downforce
around
here
and
on
one
lap
it
is
maybe
not
the
best,”
said
Verstappen.

“I
think
for
tomorrow
it
can
be
quite
strong
and
also
knowing
we
have
to
start
a
bit
back.
All
in
all,
it
was
a
good
lap
and
I
enjoyed
it.
I
think
it
will
be
an
interesting
day
tomorrow.”

Sainz,
who
put
in
the
third-fastest
lap
in
qualifying
but
faces
a
stern
test
from
further
back
on
the
grid,
admitted
that
it
“hurts”
to
have
to
tumble
down
the
starting
order
for
Ferrari’s
home
race.

“It
hurts
to
be
starting
from
the
back
with
how
competitive
we
feel
in
the
car
this
weekend.
I
wish
I
could
be
at
the
front
with
Charles
to
try
and
do
a
1-2
for
the
team
tomorrow,”
he
said.

QUALIFYING
TIMES

1.
Charles
Leclerc
(Ferrari)
1:20:161

2.
Max
Verstappen
(Red
Bull)
+0.145

3.
Carlos
Sainz
(Ferrari)
+0.268

4.
Sergio
Perez
(Red
Bull)
+1.045

5.
Lewis
Hamilton
(Mercedes)
+1.363

6.
George
Russell
(Mercedes)
+1.381

7.
Lando
Norris
(McLaren)
+1.423

8.
Daniel
Ricciardo
(McLaren)
+1.764

9.
Pierre
Gasly
(AlphaTauri)
+2.487

10.
Fernando
Alonso
(Alpine)
No
Time