Formula 1
CARLOS GIFTS THE TIFOSI POLE POSITION AT MONZA! MAX HAPPY WITH P2 AND LECLERC ROUNDS OFF THE YOUNG GUNS PODIUM.
Sainz brought cheer to Ferrari’s passionate army of home fans on Saturday after claiming pole position for the Gran Premio D’italia.
Spaniard Sainz will start at the front of the grid for the first time this season after pipping by 0.013 seconds reigning world champion Max Verstappen who is hunting a record 10th straight GP win.
MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 02: “It’s incredible. Everywhere we go it’s just noise, support and encouragement and it’s the best feeling you can have as a driver,” said the Spaniard. “Tomorrow I will give it everything to hold on to that P1. A good start, a good first stint and see if we can battle Max. Normally in the long runs he is quicker but I am going to give it all.”
Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari took third to start from the second row alongside the Mercedes of George Russell.
Sainz trails Verstappen by a whopping 237 points in the drivers’ championship and is yet to claim a podium finish this season.
But he shone in Saturday’s qualifying in front of loud home support after already showing his speed by topping the times in two practice sessions, and celebrated with delighted Ferrari fans after snatching pole in the final moments.
MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 02: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 kicks up gravel during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 02, 2023 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
Verstappen still has a great chance to break the record of nine straight GP wins he shares with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel after winning a dramatic race on home soil in Zandvoort last weekend.
MAX: “Of course tomorrow we’ll try to win the race. Normally we have a quicker race car, but let’s just enjoy today and then we’ll focus on tomorrow.
Verstappen has won 11 of the 13 races so far this year and leads Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez by 138 points in the standings.
Perez, who is the only other driver to win this season, finished 0.394sec back in fifth.