Formula 1: Italian GP LIVE on SKY (display)
Follow the practice, qualifying and race from 09/01/2023 to 09/03/2023
Ferrari cheers after qualifying: Sainz takes pole in Monza
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has secured pole position for the Formula 1 race in Monza. The Spaniard relegated Red Bull driver Max Verstappen (+0.013 seconds) to second place on Saturday in 1:20.294 minutes to the loud cheers of the Scuderia fans. It was Sainz’s first pole of the season and the fourth of his career overall. Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc (+0.067 seconds) will start third in the Italian Grand Prix in front of the home fans on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky).
“I’ve had goosebumps since crossing the finish line, getting out of the car and seeing that crowd. That’s incredible. It’s the best feeling you can have as a driver,” said the overjoyed Sainz.
Meanwhile, Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg retired early. The Rhinelander missed the third and decisive knockout round in 13th place. For the third time in a row, Hülkenberg did not make it into the top ten in the hunt for a starting place.
Before the 14th race of the season on the high-speed circuit north of Milan, Verstappen leads the championship standings by a huge margin. The Dutchman is already 138 points ahead of his team-mate Sergio Perez.
Verstappen sets first best time in Monza, Ferrari strong
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen set the best time in the Formula 1 opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix. As so often this season, the two-time world champion was faster than the competition on Friday in 1:22.657 minutes. Second on the 5.793 kilometer track in Monza was Carlos Sainz, much to the delight of the many Ferrari fans. The Spaniard was 0.046 seconds behind the leader. Third was Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez ahead of Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari. Leclerc was the last Scuderia driver to win the home game north of Milan in 2019.
Record world champion Lewis Hamilton finished eighth in the Mercedes one day after extending his contract until the end of 2025. Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg was only 16.
Verstappen leads the drivers’ standings by a wide margin ahead of the 14th Grand Prix of the season. After nine wins in a row, he is already 138 points ahead of Perez.
Source: https://www.focus.de/sport/formel1/grosser-preis-von-italien-formel-1-im-liveticker-das-erste-training-aus-monza_id_203409420.html
