Will Mercedes ruin Ferrari’s big day again? Leclerc on pole ahead of Hamilton, Bottas and Vettel;Watch race live at 2. 10 pm on Sky F1
Last Updated: 08 / 09 / 19 10: 29 am
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are set to do battle again as they share a “box-office” front row at Sunday’s Italian GP, with home favorites Ferrari looking to finally end Mercedes’ Monza dominance.
Leclerc, Ferrari’s new star who just held off Hamilton one week ago in Spa, starts on pole and will have the weight of a nation on his shoulders as the in-form young Monegasque bids for the Scuderia’s first win in front of their passionate ‘Tifosi’ fans since
The race starts at 2. 10 pm on Sky Sports F1, with build-up at 12. 30 PM.
“Seeing all the fans as crazy as [Saturday] was unbelievable, “Leclerc told Sky F1 after topping a bizarre qualifying session. “I really hope to see them that way [on Sunday] under the podium.”
But with Sebastian Vettel only fourth in the sister Ferrari, Leclerc is vulnerable.
(3:)Anthony Davidson analyzes the laps of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton after a bizarre end to qualifying at Monza
Hamilton starts just behind the 21 – year-old and will lead Mercedes’ charge ahead of Valtteri Bottas, and the Silver Arrows are confident considering they have been much closer to Ferrari than they expected at F1’s fastest track.
“I love that it’s that close and it’s not multiple tenths,” said Hamilton, just 0. 039 s off Leclerc on Saturday.
Mercedes have won the last five races at Monza, with Hamilton the victor on four of those occasions . Last year, he passed Vettel on the first lap before hunting down team-mate Kimi Raikkonen’s after Ferrari’s qualifying one-two.
He is in an even better position in 2019.
“I definitely think we can keep up with them,” added the championship leader, who will look to extend his 65 – point advantage. “Whether or not we can close the gap and overtake them, time will tell.
1 : 59Hamilton was pleased to split the two Ferraris after taking second spot on the grid following a chaotic qualifying session at MonzaHamilton was pleased to split the two Ferraris after taking second spot on the grid following a chaotic qualifying session at Monza
“I have to be grateful that I’m on the front row. We get to have a fight with the Ferraris, which is nice. We’ve split them, so as a team it’s a really good position for us to be in. “
Leclerc stated: “It’s obviously going to be very, very difficult because, first of all, they are quick, secondly, slipstream and DRS are very important here. I think the race pace is quite good, better than in Spa, but for sure it’s going to be very difficult to keep them behind.
“I think a very good start from myself and also from Seb will be very important for the good result.”
Leclerc was expecting some issues in qualifying but was happy to secure pole position on the first run in Q3 before the chaos started
() Sky F1’s Paul Di Resta is enthused by the prospect of Leclerc vs Hamilton again.
“It’s box office,” said Di Resta. “Ferrari on pole gets the crowd going. They have embraced Charles.
” Lewis has to do some overtaking to win this race , as he did last year. Tricky conditions, it should be good. “
Vettel, without a victory in over a year, will start ahead of the Renaults after their superb Saturday, with Daniel Ricciardo ahead of Nico Hulkenberg. Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Alex Albon share the fourth row.
And look out for an exciting Max Verstappen show, with the Dutchman ready to do some overtaking as he starts at the back of the grid, behind Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly who also have engine penalties.
Italian GP Provisional Grid
1) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (3) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
4) Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
5) Daniel Ricciardo, Renault
(6) Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 7) Carlos Sainz, McLaren
(9) Lance Stroll, Racing Point
10 (Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo) 11) Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
13) Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
14) Romain Grosjean, Haas
15) Sergio Perez, Racing Point
16) George Russell, Williams
17) Robert Kubica, Williams
18 Lando Norris, McLaren 19 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
20) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
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