Italian Grand Prix – Qualifying: Bottas positions himself for the sprint race

In anticipation of potential traffic jams that could occur at the end of the session, the race director is requiring drivers to complete at least one lap in 1 minute 43 seconds.

Q1: Always the same traffic jams on the track

The two Ferraris start at the front much to the delight of the tifosi who have come in large numbers to cheer on their favorites. Thus, Sainz is the first leader of the session ahead of Leclerc.

Very quickly, the Mercedes cars take a strong lead, with the McLarens positioning themselves as outsiders.

But what is most shocking during this first run are the speed differences between the drivers who are on an out lap and those who are on a flying lap. Several times, large groups of five to seven cars hinder the drivers on a fast lap. Accidents are narrowly avoided.

The Williams team is conducting a team session, with Latifi giving a little tow to his teammate, allowing them to temporarily advance to Q2. There are thirty seconds left and what was so feared finally happened. The 20 cars form a little train on the straight line before the parabolic corner.

Hamilton and Bottas confirm their respective positions. George Russell is briefly part of the drivers excluded from Q2. However, quickly, the stewards invalidate Yuki Tsunoda’s lap time who ultimately finishes 17th and gives his place to Russell.

The eliminated are: Latifi, Tsunoda, Schumacher, Kubica, Mazepin.

Q2: Giovinazzi’s surprise performance ahead of the two Ferraris.

The Red Bulls are the first to go out for this Q2. Perez providing the slipstream to his teammate, finishes this first part in 10th place. The cars from the Austrian team are struggling. Verstappen does no better than 6th. While the Mercedes continue to dominate the top of the leaderboard, with Hamilton leading, the McLarens confirm their speed from Q1. The Ferraris are in clear decline. Charles Leclerc is facing technical issues that are affecting his confidence and therefore his performance.

As in Q1, all drivers are leaving the pits at the last moment. This creates a lot of confusion in the pit lane, with an increased risk of accidents. Many are complaining about the traffic.

The FIA will investigate the responsibilities after the session. Penalties could be imposed.

Without surprise, Hamilton and Bottas finish Q2 in the first two positions. Verstappen, fourth, slots in between the two McLarens. The surprise comes from Giovinazzi. He qualifies again for Q3 by placing his Alfa Romeo in 7th place ahead of the two Ferraris. Max Verstappen will once again be able to rely on his teammate in Q3 for some slipstream. Perez is just tenth.

The eliminated drivers are: Vettel, Stroll, Alonso, Ocon, Russell.

Q3: Hamilton untouchable

The Mercedes wish to immediately take shelter and are the first to leave the garage. Bottas still in the lead to give Hamilton a tow. The same goes for Red Bull with Perez helping Verstappen.

Bottas makes a small mistake, allowing Verstappen to be second, 17 hundredths behind Hamilton. Norris and Ricciardo relegate Bottas to fifth place.

Antonio Giovinazzi will try to do better than 10th place on a single flying lap.

Three minutes before the end of the session, all drivers head out for one last attempt to improve their lap times on fresh tires. This time, it is the Red Bulls that are the first to go out to make sure they are not blocked by their competitors.

It’s Bottas who creates the surprise by stealing the first place from his teammate who fails by 9 hundredths. Verstappen does not improve and drops back to 3rd place. Both McLarens confirm their roles as outsiders. And Pierre Gasly once again produces a very good lap by taking advantage of a slight tow given by Max Verstappen with a 6th place.

Results table: