The chances are good this time too. Reason: Opponent Verstappen is moved back by five places due to an engine penalty. “That’s why we concentrated more on the race than on a fast lap when setting up,” reveals the Dutchman, who starts from seventh place.
His chief motorsport adviser Helmut Marko reveals: “Ferrari has developed unbelievable top speed, they must have cranked their engine up to the last detail. We didn’t do so well in sector one, we lost the time, but it’s not a drama. We’re always at racing speed still good, if not even better than Ferrari. If necessary, we’ll just finish second, that’s enough. I think the people in front of us should be able to overtake during the race and of course we’ll also see that we can attack Leclerc – but not with any risk: If that’s not possible, then we’ll just stay in place (second; ed.).”
Carlos Sainz finished third in the second Ferrari.
Defeat for Mick Schumacher: After the German could hardly drive in the free practice sessions due to technical problems, the Haas driver was only able to finish last in qualifying. The reason is a major slowdown before the first chicane. His teammate Kevin Magnussen is only 19.
Mick Schumacher starts the race from 17th place.
Schumacher: “I made the best of the situation I was in. And that was not enough track time. Something that isn’t pretty. I don’t want to drive slowly and try to brake late. It was too late then.” Schumacher will hardly benefit from the penalties from the other drivers, because he too has changed drive components and is starting the race from 17th place.
Although Sebastian Vettel beats his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll, he is also eliminated in 17th place. After all: The Heppenheimer advances to eleventh place on the starting grid.
Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix
Qualifying result:
2. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull +0.145s
3. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) – Ferrari +0.268
4. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull +1.045
5. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes +1.363
6. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes +1.381
7. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren +1.423
8. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – McLaren +1.764
9. Pierre Gasly (France) – Alpha Tauri +2.487
10. Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Alpine 1:22.089
11. Esteban Ocon (France) – Alpine 1:22.130
12. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo 1:22.235
13. Nyck de Vries (Netherlands) – Aston Martin 1:22.471
14. Zhou Guanyu (China) – Alfa Romeo 1:22.577
15. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) – Alpha Tauri 1:22.020
16. Nicholas Latifi (Canada) – Williams 1:22,587
17. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Aston Martin 1:22.636
18. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Aston Martin 1:22.748
19. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas 1:22.908
20. Mick Schumacher (Gland/Switzerland) – Haas 1:23.005
