Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz claimed his first pole position of the Formula One season at the Italian Grand Prix after topping the qualifying times on Saturday.
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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.
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.
Dutchman 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.
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 0.394 seconds back in fifth.
DIARISE | What time is the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday, 3 September?
The race will start at 15:00 (SA time).
Grid for the Italian Grand Prix after qualifying at Monza on Saturday:
Front row
Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
2nd row
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
3rd row
Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)
4th row
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
5th row
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
6th row
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)
Liam Lawson (NZL/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)
7th row
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari)
8th row
Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes)
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
10th row
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari)
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse