2021 Italian Grand Prix: Sprint Qualifying Max Verstappen Clinch Pole Position as Valtteri Bottas Encounters Grid Penalty
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The Italian Grand Prix saw the qualifying session for the F1 sprint take place soon after the first practice session in Monza. Max Verstappen holds a narrow lead over Lewis Hamilton in the driver standings, as the teams reach the finals race of this triple header.
The track in Monza has been Mercedes’ strong hold for several years, and the first qualifying race proved that, with Valtteri Bottas securing the top spot going into the sprint qualifying. He beat teammate Lewis Hamilton, who took second place by 0.096s. However it is not good news for the Finn as he will be starting from the back of the grid regardless of qualifying due to an engine change penalty.
Max Verstappen finished third in the qualifying, holding down the fort for Red Bull, while his teammate Checo Perez could only manage ninth. Lando Norris and Daniel Riccardo of McLaren took the fourth and fifth spot after a strong performance. Pierre Gasly had another strong showing, starting P6 for the sprint qualifiers. The Ferraris, whose home Grand Prix had Tifosi cheering for them, saw Carlos Sainz finish seventh and Charles Leclerc finish eighth, a great improvement after last year’s disaster. Antonio Giovinazzi rounded off the top 10 for the sprint qualifying, which would determine the starting grid for the race on Sunday.
The exciting sprint qualifying consists of a 100m dash, expected to be around 18 laps of the Monza circuit and end in about 25-30 minutes. Points are set to be awarded for the first 3 finishers in the sprint, with 3 points being awarded to first place, two to second and one point to third place.
2021 Italian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen takes pole; Disappointing 5th for Hamilton
The sprint qualifying of the Italian Grand Prix saw Hamilton get off to a not so great start, as both McLarens overtook him in the opening lap. However a red flag was called soon enough, as Pierre Gasly got caught up as he lost his front wing and was sent into the barriers.
Racing resumed soon enough, and with six laps to go Hamilton could not seem to get past Norris, who firmly held on to 4th place. Bottas on the other hand was doing quite well, 2.1s clear of Verstappen.
The race ended with Bottas finishing first, but because of his grid penalty, Max Verstappen, who finished second would get provisional pole position.
Riccardo took third, while Norris finished fourth, holding out Hamilton who finished fifth. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished sixth and seventh, while Giovinazzi finished eighth. Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso rounded off the top 10.
The rest of the grid for the Italian Grand Prix consists of Sebastian Vettel, Esteban Ocon, Nicholas Latifi, George Williams, Yuki Tsunoda, Nikita Mazepin, Robert Kubica, Mick Schumacher and Pierre Gasly.
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Saivee Phatak
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