Formula 1 says goodbye to Europe with an emotional spectacle.
On pole – a Ferrari in Monza. With a 2019 Italy winner at the wheel. A world champion after a penalty from seventh place. A record world champion after penalties from the back. Excitement is guaranteed today (3 p.m. / Sky) at the Italian Grand Prix. In the middle, after an actually bad qualification, but a series of deferrals, Sebastian Vettel was also at the site of his first major Formula 1 success. And even Mick Schumacher does not need to start from the last place he held in the knockout stage after a number of setbacks through no fault of his own.
A Ferrari on pole
It’s an unusual picture. Charles Leclerc wears yellow. The Ferrari also wears a bit of yellow. A reminiscence of company founder Enzo Ferrari and his home town of Modena. The race track built in 1922 is also celebrating its 100th anniversary, an ideal time for a Ferrari triumph. In 2019, Leclerc won once before in Monza. Three years later he starts from pole after a strong qualification. In the ranks they will give everything to make it work again. Monza lives Ferrari, Monza breathes Ferrari, now the often snappy Scuderia must not run out of air.
Watch out for what comes after Leclerc
The pole also comes as a bit of a surprise for the Monegasque as he didn’t even have to benefit from penalties from his rivals. The fact that Max Verstappen, the world champion in the Red Bull, after qualifying place second, that Carlos Sainz, his Leclerc colleague after qualifying place third, that Verstappen’s competitor Sergio Perez after qualifying place four and that record world champion Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes on qualifying Fifth place, the fact that they all have to start further back due to new parts in their cars that exceed the permitted contingent makes the race a little more unpredictable.
Verstappen will start from seventh place
Ahead of him is George Russell in the Mercedes from second on the grid, Lando Norris in the McLaren in third, team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, last year’s winner, in fourth, Pierre Gasly, surprise winner in 2020, in the Toro Rosso in fifth and Fernando Alonso, winner of Monza 2010 in a Ferrari six.
Vettel’s farewell to the site of the first Grand Prix victory
17th in qualifying but 11th on the grid. For Sebastian Vettel, the penalties against the competition had some good points. But the Aston Martin and the now 35-year-old still really get along. On the other hand: Vettel loves courses like Monza. Also because he clinched his first pole there in 2008 and the day after his first Grand Prix victory.
Mick Schumacher’s fight with the ailing Haas
17 practice laps, more were not possible. Anything but adequate race preparation. And in a precarious situation. The future of the 23-year-old at Haas is still unclear. He’s driving for a new contract. He will start from 17th place, he should hardly be able to keep Hamilton and Sainz behind him for long. Not an enviable task for Mick Schumacher, whose father Michael is a record winner with five wins and together with Hamilton at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.
