In qualifying in Monza there were no usual suspects: Gasly in pole position with the Alpine, followed by Russell’s Mercedes. Behind Leclerc and Hamilton
Change of scene at Monza qualifying. No usual suspects in pole position. It won’t be a Mercedes or a McLaren starting from first position, or even a Ferrari. No, he will take first place Pierre Gaslyat the wheel of the Alpine. The Frenchman, to tell the truth, is no stranger to these exploits on the Brianza circuit: here he won the only race of his career in 2020. This time he scores the first qualifying performance of his life in Formula 1. He is also the first French driver on pole in Monza since Jean Alesiwho started ahead of everyone on this track in 1997. He drove a Benetton, Alesiwhich (coincidentally) saw a certain person as team principal and executive director Flavio Briatorein the role he still holds at Alpine today. A curious coincidence.
The main candidates for winning the Grand Prix
George Russell stops six hundredths from pole and is bittersweet, but the starting position remains more than good in view of the Grand Prix: the rivals for the World Championship, Hamilton And Antonellithey both start from behind. Behind him, the third half had been Oscar Piastriwho subsequently received a three-place penalty for obstruction Liam Lawson. The maneuver was born from a team strategy designed to favor Lando Norrisreigning world champion, who however was unable to take advantage of it and finished eighth.
Ferrari’s expectations in Monza
Following the penalties, Charles Leclerc And Lewis Hamilton they placed third and fourth respectively, keeping the Scuderia afloat despite very different initial expectations (with the much desired power of the new engine). The qualification, in fact, proved to be full of tensions and dashed hopes. A battery problem, openly admitted by the team principal Frederic Vasseureven put the Ferraris at risk of elimination in Q2.
Both Reds therefore had access to the final phase of qualifying in Monza, but without the pace to challenge for pole. Leclerc And HamiltonIn any case, they now find themselves in a favorable position to undermine Russell, being able to flank him with both cars and put him under pressure. It must also be said that the Mercedes still appears clearly superior in terms of top speed, especially on a track like Monza, where it is pure speed that counts most of all.
What Kimi Antonelli needs for the comeback
Max Verstappen he only finished in fifth position, due to a series of unfavorable circumstances. First of allin Q3 did not find the help of Lawsoneliminated on the second cut. Furthermore, at the decisive moment he was unable to catch the trail of Kimi Antonelli. Paradoxically, it was the Dutch champion who involuntarily acted as the driving force behind Russell for second place.
With regard to Antonellithe World Championship leader was relegated to the last row due to the engine change. The latter, however, could be the real rabbit in the hat in the race: fresh and powerful, it will undoubtedly make him the number one special watch for a difficult but not impossible comeback. Appointment on Sunday, at 3pm, to decide who will cross the finish line in Monza in the lead.
