Mercedes dominate Monza qualifying but it is Valtteri Bottas who pips Lewis Hamilton to head Saturday's F1 Sprint grid; Title leader Max Verstappen just holds off rapid McLarens for third; Saturday's 18-lap sprint race at 3.30pm on Sky Sports F1, with results setting grid for Sunday's GP
Friday 10 September 2021 22:47, UK
Valtteri Bottas produced a sensational final lap to upstage title challengers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to set the pace in Italian GP qualifying and secure the leading grid spot for Saturday's F1 Sprint.
Monza, the fastest circuit on the calendar, is staging the second edition of the sport's new trial format with qualifying setting the grid for Saturday's 18-lap mini race, the results of which then establish the starting order for the main Grand Prix on Sunday.
On the week it was confirmed he was leaving Mercedes at the end of the year to be replaced by George Russell, Bottas went from fifth to first on the final laps of Q3 with a lap of 1:19.555 to pip Hamilton by 0.096 seconds.
Max Verstappen, the championship leader, was third with Red Bull adrift of Mercedes around the high-speed track.
"Congratulations to Valtteri, he did a mega lap," said Hamilton, who had topped Q1 and Q2.
"It was looking good for us until the end but then he went quicker, and I just couldn't match it."
The significant catch for Bottas' weekend is that he will take grid penalties for engine changes, although these will not be triggered until Sunday - when he will start the grand prix from last place.
On a circuit that traditionally does not suit Red Bull's package, Verstappen had his hands full to stay in touch with Mercedes and just did enough to minimise the damage with third place on the grid.
Indeed the Dutchman only just held off the flying Mercedes-powered McLarens, with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo finishing within half a tenth of the Red Bull in fourth and fifth respectively.
Verstappen benefitted from a lap-time-boosting 'tow' from team-mate Sergio Perez, who sacrificed some performance of his own and ended up down in ninth place. Without that, the Dutchman would likely have been on the third row.
"We struggled a little more than we wanted in practice but I think we recovered quite well in qualifying," said Verstappen. "I'm still happy to be third, and hopefully in the race we can be a little bit closer."
Saturday's F1 Sprint takes place at 3.30pm live on Sky Sports F1, with the Italian GP at 2pm on Sunday.
The top three finishers on Saturday are awarded points (three for first, two for second, one for third).
Aston Martin and Alpine both dropped out in Q2 and the two teams each picked up fines of €5,000 (£4,267) from stewards afterwards for near-misses in the pit lane with cars during that session.
Ferrari qualified seventh and eighth at their home event behind last year's surprise Monza victor Pierre Gasly, taking sixth on the grid for Italy's 'other' team, AlphaTauri. Carlos Sainz pipped team-mate Charles Leclerc, who appeared to struggle with an issue on his car during the session.
Italian GP Qualifying: Top 10
1) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
2) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
4) Lando Norris, McLaren
5) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
6) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
7) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
8) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
9) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
10) Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
F1's experimental format made its debut to largely positive reviews at the British GP in July with overtaking-friendly Monza selected as the venue for the second trial.
While still important, the Friday evening qualifying session is slightly less crucial than normal given drivers still have a chance on Saturday in a racing situation to gain positions for the main grid on Sunday.
But with points on offer for the top three finishers in the sprint, the battle for the leading starting positions for the first leg of the weekend remains critical amid a championship battle of such fine margins.
It was therefore a very encouraging start to the event for Mercedes, who lead the Constructors' Championship but have won only one of the last nine races.
Hamilton had topped the earlier practice session and appeared favourite for qualifying, a status he underlined by pacing Q1 and Q2 from Bottas.
The seven-time champion was again ahead on the first runs of the final shootout but the sister Mercedes, 0.4s adrift as they started the final laps, found a little more pace in the final reckoning.
"I feel good, I feel relaxed now that everything is sorted for the future," said the Finn, who will join Alfa Romeo next year. "The car was so good today."
But although in contention for the points-paying positions on Saturday, Bottas' weekend will take on a different complexion when he starts Sunday's 53-lap race from 20th and last place.
