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Carlos Sainz delights Ferrari fans with with Italian Grand Prix pole at Monza
By Tom Cary, Senior Sports Correspondent, in Monza
There is no place on the Formula One calendar like Monza when a Ferrari is in full flow, and the almost guttural roar from the tifosi when Carlos Sainz pipped Max Verstappen at the death to snatch pole for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix was one of the most joyous of this season.
Never mind that Verstappen remains the odds-on favourite to take a record 10th win in a row. Never mind that Red Bull’s race pace, at least on the basis of the season thus far, remains infinitely superior to Ferrari’s. This has not been a happy season for the Scuderia, with an all-too-familiar mix of car and strategy issues. But for one glorious sun-drenched evening they could dream.
So could Sainz. The Spaniard, who turned 29 on Friday, has not had the easiest of seasons but he has been inspired this weekend. He looked as if he was waiting for someone to pinch him as he lapped up the acclaim after parking up in the pit-lane.
“It’s difficult to put into words,” he said. “The whole weekend, since we arrived on Wednesday, the support we had from the crowds, the energy. Also I had my birthday yesterday, which added to the good vibes. I enjoyed that a lot.”
As well he might. Sainz trails team-mate Charles Leclerc 8-5 in qualifying this year. But he always looked the more likely of the two Ferrari drivers to take the fight to Verstappen. So it proved, although it was unbelievably close between the three of them in the end.
In their first runs in Q3, provisional pole changed hands three times in a matter of seconds with Leclerc swiping it from Verstappen only for Sainz to go even quicker.
Then in their final runs, it looked as if Verstappen had done just enough, ducking just under Leclerc’s time, only for Sainz to snatch pole by 0.013 sec.
The Spaniard described it as the “most special lap of his career” and it was not hard to see why. The quasi-religious nature of the support for Ferrari at a track, which is known as the Temple of Speed, raises the intensity levels for drivers wearing red overalls more than a few notches.
Sainz drove like a man possessed, particularly in the middle sector, and it paid off. “At Ascari and Parabolica, I really went for it and it worked. Goosebumps,” he said.
Could he or Leclerc give Ferrari their first win here since 2019? It seems unlikely. Even Sainz cautioned against expecting too much. “From what I’ve seen of the long runs I’m not going to lie, it looks trickier,” Sainz admitted. “Once you put five or six laps on the tyre, that’s where Red Bull have their strength. But if we have a good start I can try to make their lives as complicated as possible.”
Verstappen did not sound concerned. Asked whether he agreed with Sainz that he would have the faster car, he nodded. “So far this year, yes,” he said bluntly. “Hopefully it will be the same tomorrow. I’m happy with second to be honest. I’m confident for tomorrow.”
Mercedes’s George Russell will also be happy with his performance, managing to muscle in on Ferrari and Red Bull by pipping Sergio Perez to P4. If that does not sound all that impressive, it should be noted that Russell’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton was only able to take eighth place on the grid, behind the Williams of Alex Albon and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri.
“I was just struggling with the car,” Hamilton admitted afterwards. “It is just hard to optimise. There is nothing easy about this car.”
Whether Sainz or Leclerc can go on to deny Verstappen that record win remains to be seen. Sainz said he would try to feed off the fervour. “I couldn’t be enjoying this weekend any more than I have so far,” the Spaniard concluded. “Everywhere I go it’s support and encouragement and it’s the best feeling you can have as a driver. Normally in race pace [Verstappen] is quicker. But I’m going to give it everything.”
Italian Grand Prix qualifying: As it happened. . .
I guess, for all of Red Bull's dominance of races...
...qualifying has actually been moderately interesting this season, especially recently. We’ve had three Ferrari poles now and a Mercedes one and it often has not been two Red Bulls on the front row.
Of course, the Red Bull tends to be optimised for Sundays and Ferrari have long been over-performers in qualifying and under-performers on Sunday. But it’s not always the easiest to overtake here, especially if you have a high top speed and Ferrari do. They also have two cars in the top three, unlike Red Bull.
Sainz gets an incredible reception from the fans
“Honestly, it’s been such an intense qualifying, especially Q3. All three went for it.. in that last lap I knew had some lap time to come in Ascar and Parabolica and I went for it. I really pushed hard in that last lap. Goosebumps since I crossed the finish line. I haven’t stopped the goosebumps, it’s incredible.
“Everywhere we go it’s just noise, support and encouragement and it’s the best feeling you can have as an athlete. Tomorrow I am going to give it everything to hold onto that P1. A good start and a good first stint and see if we can battle Max.”
Charles Leclerc reacts to a "disappointing" third place
“I mean, my feeling can only be amazing with the Tifosi of course. On my side I am a bit disappointed but seeing that Carlos is P1 is great for Ferrari. He has done an incredible job all weekend. Unfortunately in Q3 I didn’t have a slipstream. This probably cost us one position at least. We should be pleased, especially on my side we’ve been struggling a lot. I don’t smile very often when I am P3 but obviously being here and having that much support is amazing.”
CARLOS SAINZ TAKES POLE FOR THE 2023 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
What a lap? Leclerc close. Verstappen closer. Just 0.067sec separating the top three.
Again, a reminder that both Ferrari cars are under investigation... but the new is just in that neither of them will face a sanction for any alleged infringement.
So it is confirmed to be a pole for Carlos Sainz! And third for Leclerc.
Q3 - Hamilton will be the final man over the line
Not sure he’ll be in contention for the front two rows...
Leclerc goes fastest in sector one... Verstappen can’t beat that, he’s just under a tenth down. Sainz improves on his previous time.
Leclerc is 0.087sec ahead after two sectors...
Verstappen in the mix too. As is Sainz!
Q2 - Standings after the first runs
- SAI 1:20.991
- VER +0.044
- LEC +0.184
- ALB +0.281
- PER +0.422
- RUS +0.489
- ALO +0.552
- NOR +0.590
- PIA +0.754
- TSU +0.777
DROP ZONE: - HUL +0.785
- HAM +0.875
- LAW +0.924
- SAR +0.953
- BOT +0.956
Hamilton not looking in great shape. He complains of “no grip” to his team as he pulls into the garage.
Q2 - The Mercedes cars start their laps last of all
Sainz and Leclerc, in first and third currently, are under investigation for not sticking to the maximum lap time. Would be so Ferrari if they were to take pole and then lose it through a silly penalty.
Russell and Hamilton not looking too sharp at the moment. Unlikely to trouble the top four. Indeed they do not. Hamilton in 12th and Russell in sixth. Not sure what happened to Hamilton there.
Q2 - Verstappen starts his flying lap early
It looks pretty good, as most of his laps do. Perez is behind him with a bit of a slipstream.
Verstappen posts a 1:21.035 with Perez 0.378sec down... not great.
Albon splits them, soon after with a 1:21.272sec. Norris fifth, Alonso fourth around half a second off Verstappen.
Q1 - McLaren not looking too tidy here
Norris in 13th and Piastri in 17th...
Piastri improves to 11th with Norris behind him moving up to fourth. Stroll in 18th currently and Alpine in last and last-but one as they leave the pit lane. They might be the final two cars to cross the line which could work out for them. If they don’t encounter a ton of traffic which is always a problem here.
Q1 - Seven minutes remain
Alpine struggling here. Ocon’s latest time only good enough for 19th as he kicked up some gravel by running wide on the exit of Ascari. Got a big wobble on and it could have been worse.
Hamilton currently down in 13th and needs to improve. Tsunoda slips into fifth with a decent lap time. His team-mate Liam Lawson not too far away from him in eighth, as Leclerc moves into third.
Q1 - Perez moves fastest ahead of Albon... but for how long?
Not very long, Verstappen beats him by 0.338sec, with the fastest second and final sectors of anyone.
Alonso moves into third, albeit nearly half a second off what Verstappen just did.
Hulkenberg, Tsunoda, Ocon, Stroll and Lawson in the drop zone.
Q1 - Verstappen rounds the Parabolica/Curva Alboreto to start his first flying lap
Let’s see how he gets on. It’s a 27.176 in the first sector, which is the fastest of anyone. Admittedly not too many representative runs so far.
It’s a 27.831 in the second sector, with Perez just beating Verstappen’s first sector time shortly before.
We're nearly ready to get going in Q1
Predictions? I mean, it is as dull as hell, but how can you look beyond Verstappen? As I said, Albon into the top eight for me. Mercedes to be both in the top five with a Ferrari on the front-row. Perez with another shocker. There you go, that’s a bit more interesting.
What can Williams do this weekend?
The FW45 is, like its predecessors, a pretty good car on these low downforce tracks like Monza and Montreal. It was particularly good last week on a higher downforce set-up at Zandvoort, though some of that was down to the changeable conditions. If you were to pick a track where Williams could do well it would be this one. I would be surprised if Albon does not make it into Q3.
Not long until we find out...
Ferrari wins in Monza
Only two in the last 15 years, Alonso in 2010 and Leclerc in 2019. There were five wins from Michael Schumacher and two from Rubens Barrichello from 1996–2006, which isn’t too bad.
Times from third practice
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari 1min20.912sec
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull +0.086
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes +0.541
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +0.574
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +0.799
- George Russell, Mercedes +0.799
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas +0.972
- Nico Hulkenberg, Haas +1.037
- Alexander Albon, Williams +1.142
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull +1.280
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +1.333
- Liam Lawson, AlphaTauri +1.384
- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri +1.385
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren +1.390
- Logan Sargeant, Williams +1.468
- Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo +1.599
- Lando Norris, McLaren +1.603
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine +1.827
- Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo +1.830
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine +1.940
Good afternoon F1 fans
And welcome to our coverage for qualifying for the 2023 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. This place is just “one of those tracks”, isn’t it? An historic part of Formula One history that sits alongside the likes of Silverstone, Spa and Monaco and a track that should never be taken off the calendar.
Still, just because it has a ton of history doesn’t mean we get good races all the time. In fact, you’d say the opposite is often true. Yes, there have been a few crackers in the last few years (Pierre Gasly’s win in 2020 and Daniel Ricciardo’s in 2021), but far too frequently it is all a bit of a dull, predictable one-stop affair.
The entire season has been a predictable and dull affair, in truth, when it comes to the very front. Max Verstappen has now won nine in a row and 11 of the 13 rounds so far this season with his team-mate winning the other two. Yes, the action down the field has been decent but that does not fully compensate for having the best driver in the best car running away with the championship. It’s nothing new in F1, but seasons that go down to the wire every now and then would be nice, right?
Anyway, might we finally see someone upset the Red Bull juggernaut? Carlos Sainz was fastest for Ferrari in final practice a little earlier today, albeit only by 0.086sec from Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton was third, over half a second off Sainz, with the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc in fourth, a smidgen away from Hamilton. Sainz also topped practice two on Friday. Ferrari have had little to cheer this season, sitting fourth in the standings. Of course, they have turned things around since finishing sixth in 2020, but this is definitely a step back since last season.
I wouldn’t hold out much hope of a Ferrari challenging Verstappen in qualifying. And even if that does come true, what chance of them doing it over the entire race? Slim indeed. Still, let’s not get too downbeat. Verstappen has just a solitary win at this track in his career and the circuit can be a bit of a car breaker, though less so than it used to be.
Anyway, qualifying gets underway at 3pm BST and runs for about an hour. We will be here for all of the build-up, live updates and reaction, whoever comes out on top.