Feature
FACTS AND STATS: Norris chasing two podiums on Italian soil for the second straight year
Monza gave the Ferrari fans just what they wanted on Saturday, with Charles Leclerc grabbing pole position for the Scuderia. But while his progress was relatively serene, the same can’t be said for what was going on behind the Monegasque with nine drivers set for grid penalties. As such, the order is mixed up for tomorrow’s race – which could be a classic. Here are the best facts and stats from qualifying at the Temple of Speed…
-
Charles Leclerc grabbed his eighth pole of 2022, the best for a Ferrari driver since Michael Schumacher in 2004.
-
Leclerc’s pole is Ferrari’s 22nd at Monza, a record for one circuit.
-
The Monegasque won this race from pole in 2019.
-
Max Verstappen qualified second and should start seventh. He won from 10th on the grid in Hungary and 14th on the grid at Spa.
-
For reference, Pierre Gasly won from P10 on the grid in 2020 without making any on track passes – bar starts and restarts.
-
Carlos Sainz qualified third but will start 18th. Ferrari’s lowest ever start for a driver recovering to the podium was 13th for Jose Froilan Gonzalez and Umberto Maglioli in 1954.
-
Sergio Perez qualified fourth, the eighth straight race he was out-qualified by his team mate.
-
Lewis Hamilton out-qualified George Russell and leads 9-7 in the head-to-head with his team mate.
-
Russell will start the race from second, for his team’s second top three start of the season after his pole in Hungary.
-
Lando Norris starts third, which is McLaren’s first top three start of the year. He is also the only driver from outside the top three teams to stand on the podium this year.
-
Norris is chasing a double Italian podium for the second year in a row, after achieving the feat at Monza and Imola last year.
-
Daniel Ricciardo was eighth in Q3, in only his sixth top 10 appearance in 16 races this year.
-
Pierre Gasly ended a seven-race streak without reaching Q3.
-
Fernando Alonso managed his first Q3 appearance at Monza since 2014.
-
Esteban Ocon missed Q3, to be out-qualified by his team mate for the first time in four races.
-
Valtteri Bottas made it to Q2 for the first time since the summer break.
-
Nyck de Vries qualified 13th on debut, and in making Q2 matched his team mate’s number of Q2 appearances this season.
-
It’s the first time there will be two Dutch drivers in a race since Brazil 2006, when Robert Doornbos raced for Red Bull and Christijan Albers was at Midland.
-
Zhou Guanyu was 14th, having also qualified 14th at Zandvoort last weekend. Lance Stroll had his first ever Q1 elimination at Monza, but could keep his record of always starting in the top 10 here after the penalties are applied.
-
Sebastian Vettel lost out in Q1 for the seventh time in the last eight races.
-
It was just the third time this year that both Haas cars were out in Q1 – but the same thing happened at Silverstone, when they went on to score a double points finish.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Feature END OF YEAR REPORT: Alpine – From a nightmare start to a promising finish amid numerous behind-the-scenes changes
News Excited Lawson reacts to Red Bull promotion as he details discussions with Horner and outlines his goal
FeatureF1 Unlocked THE STRATEGIST: Could Norris have beaten Verstappen to the title had he maximised every race in 2024?
News Lawson confirmed as Verstappen's Red Bull team mate for 2025