Event: Italian Grand Prix
Track: Monza Circuit
Weather: dry 27.6°C
Tarmac: dry 40.4°C
Humidity : 36.5%
Wind : 0.2 m/s E
Pressure: 995.7 bar
Valtteri Bottas scored his 18th F1 pole position of his career. The Finnish driver did it by winning the second ever quali sprint at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix today. Because the Mercedes team fitted a 4th engine into his car he will not start from pole tomorrow. It was the 131st pole for Mercedes.
The weather was fine with a clear blue sky and the start of the race was clean until turn 1. Lewis Hamilton didn't have the best of starts and lost 4 places on the run down to the first corner. Valtteri Bottas kept the lead and Max Verstappen was second. Both Mclarens had a great start and Daniel Ricciardo was in P3 in front of Lando Norris.
In turn 1 Pierre Gasly had a small collision with the front wing of his AlphaTauri into the back of Ricciardo's McLaren and broke his wing. In the next turn his front wing completely broke off and Gasly ended up in the barrier to be the first to retire.
In the next chicane the other AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda had a collision with the Alfa Romeo of Robert Kubica. Both drivers were able to continue, but Tsunoda had to pit for a new front wing.
A safety car was deployed for 3 laps to recover the wrecked car of Gasly.
Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez and Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll had a fierce battle for P9. In lap 9 Perez overtook Stroll by cutting the 2nd corner, but had to give the position back. Fernando Alonso who was driving behind both drivers was close behind to take his chance. In the next lap Perez overtook Stroll again at the end of the start/finish straight.
Hamilton driving behind Norris on P5 the whole race and lost 2 points in the championship towards his rival Verstappen.
Classification 2021 Italian Sprint Quali
P | No | Driver | Team | Time | Laps | Points |
1 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 27:54.078 | 18 | 3 |
2 | 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +2.325s | 18 | 2 |
3 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren | +14.534s | 18 | 1 |
4 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +18.835s | 18 | |
5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +20.011s | 18 | |
6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +23.442s | 18 | |
7 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +27.952s | 18 | |
8 | 99 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo | +31.089s | 18 | |
9 | 11 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | +31.680s | 18 | |
10 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +38.671s | 18 | |
11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine | +39.795s | 18 | |
12 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin | +41.177s | 18 | |
13 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +43.373s | 18 | |
14 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams | +45.977s | 18 | |
15 | 63 | George Russell | Williams | +46.821s | 18 | |
16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | +49.977s | 18 | |
17 | 9 | Nikita Mazepin | Haas | +62.599s | 18 | |
18 | 88 | Robert Kubica | Alfa Romeo | +65.096s | 18 | |
19 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas | +66.154s | 18 | |
20 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri | DNF | 0 |
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Lewis Hamilton is, understandably, a bit deflated in the paddock.
"It wasn't great," he tells Sky Sports. "But it is what it is.
"We underestimated how well [Red Bull] would start. I've got to try and figure out how I can get by and try to limit the damage.
"You saw the pace of the Red Bull - they are so fast. It should be an easy win for [Max Verstappen] and I have to try and get past the two guys [the McLarens] ahead."
It wasnt how fast the red bull started Lewis , you were just not good enough.....!!
It was a real 'dirty' start from my point of view, if you ask me. Ricciardo might have the same 'problem' tomorrow.
could be yes i suppose , but none of the commentators picked up on the possibility, either way good news for Max
A heartfelt salute to all the Lewis excuse makers.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of thumb widgets I am unable to offer an opinion Leopold...
Shrop', glad to see that sarcasm is alive and well. lol More troublesome is that 'reply' triggers a separate post.
Sprint races: stupid format. The main race has been spoilt for the sake of a procession, and again, an accident which, thankfully, didn't take the driver out of the main race. Only a matter of time before that happens.
Kick these sprints touch and don't mess with a qualifying format that works. Sorry Mr Braun, but it's a mess.
thumbs up geek