Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) will start from pole position for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix in Monza on Sunday, ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who finished second in qualifying on Saturday.
“I’ve had goosebumps since I crossed the finish line (…), seeing the crowd, it’s incredible, it’s the best feeling you can have as a driver,” said Sainz, who won the fourth pole of his career with just 13 thousandths of a second ahead of Verstappen.
Thanks to his performance in front of a red tide fully committed to the Ferrari cause, Sainz – fifth in the championship – gave the Scuderia its third pole of the season.
The other Ferrari of Monegasque Charles Leclerc starts in third place ahead of the Briton George Russell (Mercedes) in fourth.
For his part, Quebecer Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) will start last.
In the “Temple of Speed” of Monza, the few clouds floating in the blue Lombardy sky did not dampen the Tifosi’s hopes of seeing their national team shine all the way to the checkered flag on Sunday.
The drought has lasted too long for Italian fans’ tastes, with Ferrari’s last win at Monza coming in 2019. Charles Leclerc won ahead of Briton Lewis Hamilton.
But be careful of the lion Verstappen. If he keeps repeating it and doesn’t think about it, the Dutchman has a chance of taking his tenth consecutive victory in Formula 1 in Italy, more than any other driver before him.
“Tomorrow we will of course try to win, normally we have a fast racing car,” responded Verstappen.