F1 2023: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz claims pole position for the Italian Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz’s bid to end the dominance of Max Verstappen is on track with the Ferrari driver claiming pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.
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Carlos Sainz is gunning to end dominant Max Verstappen’s record run of Formula One wins after delighting Ferrari’s passionate army of home fans on Saturday by claiming pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.
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 Verstappen who is hunting a historic 10th straight victory.
Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari took third to start from the second row alongside the Mercedes of George Russell on a great day for Ferrari in front of a typically colourful sea of support.
Sainz trails Verstappen by a whopping 237 points in the drivers’ championship and is yet to claim a podium finish this season.
But the 29-year-old shone in Saturday’s qualifying after already showing his speed by topping the times in two practice sessions, and celebrated snatching the fourth pole of his career in the final moments with the jubilant crowd.
“It’s just amazing you know, the whole weekend really. Since we arrived here on Wednesday the support and the feeling with the crowd and the energy they put into us is incredible,” Sainz told reporters.
POLE POSITION AT HOME! 🚀
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 2, 2023
It doesn’t get much better than that! 🇮🇹#ItalianGPpic.twitter.com/SMbnkL6P5v
Ferrari were also boosted by governing body FIA deciding not to pursue disciplinary action on Leclerc and Sainz for breaches to lap time limits imposed on Saturday morning in order to cut down track congestion.
That decision came moments after Sainz beat Verstappen to the top of the grid on a day which will give Ferrari hope of their first win of the season at the iconic Temple of Speed.
“We’ve got the motivation and the energy to do it. The car has been very good all weekend, especially over one lap,” added Sainz.
“From what I’ve seen through the long runs, I’m not going to lie, it’s been tricker. It’s not the same picture as in qualifying.
“It’s a good opportunity tomorrow, but also being realistic the Red Bull should be quicker. We’re just going to try to make their lives as difficult as possible.” - Record hunter Verstappen - 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, who is the only other driver to win this season and finished 0.394sec back in fifth, by 138 points in the drivers’ standings.
Ferrari and Red Bull will do battle at Monza as the two teams did last year when Verstappen eased to victory after superior pit strategy saw off pole sitter Leclerc.
“Here in Monza it’s always very tight, you might jump ahead and sometimes you’re just behind but I’m confident for tomorrow,” said Verstappen.
Red Bull’s closest challenger Fernando Alonso has a job on his hands on Sunday after he finished over a second off the pace in 10th, while Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday’s race in eighth.
Mercedes announced on Thursday that seven-time world champion Hamilton had signed a new deal until 2025 which will extend his career beyond his 40th birthday.
Hamilton, 38, is convinced he can win more races and world championships with the Silver Arrows, although he is 183 points behind Verstappen in fourth place.
Last season Hamilton failed to win or claim pole position at any GP for the first time in his career, while this year he is yet to add to his record 103 race victories.
Signed and sealed: Wait for Hamilton’s decision over
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has ended months of speculation surrounding his future by inking a two-year extension with Mercedes.
The sport’s most accomplished driver will continue with the Silver Arrows until at least the end of 2025, extending his 11-year tenure with the team.
The 38-year-old was in the final year of his deal and despite team and driver both declaring their intention to continue the relationship, it still took more than half a season for the two parties to put pen to paper.
Hamilton stands alongside F1 legend Michael Schumacher as the only two drivers in history to have won seven world championships.
He has rewritten the record books with a staggering 103 race wins, 104 pole positions and 195 podium finishes.
Yet Mercedes’ recent struggles comparable to rivals Red Bull over the past two seasons had cast doubt over whether Hamilton could see a winning future at Brackley.
But the Briton has made no secret of his desire to chase a record eighth world championship and his latest deal underlines his belief in Mercedes’ project.
“We dream every day of being the best and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal,” Hamilton said.
“Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication and it’s been an honour to earn our way into the history books with this incredible team.
“We have never been hungrier to win. We have learnt from every success but also every setback. We continue to chase our dreams, we continue to fight no matter the challenge and we will win again.
“I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.”
On the same day, Mercedes announced it had also extended George Russell on a similar two-year deal, keeping one of the most talented driver pairings on the grid together to the end of 2025.
“We have made some significant steps over the last 18 months and are only getting stronger as a team,” Russell said.
“I’m excited to help continue to build on that momentum as we progress into 2024 and 2025 as we continue to focus on returning to the very front of the pack.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff hailed the “strongest pairing on the grid” and declared the team’s intent to wrest back control of the F1 title race.
“Our partnership with Lewis is one of the most successful in the sport’s history. It was always a formality that we would continue together – and it’s energising for us all to be confirming that publicly,” Wolff said.
“His qualities as a pure racing driver are illustrated by his remarkable track record; but over our years together, he has grown to become a pillar and leader of our team.
“Those leadership qualities are crucial as we focus on fighting for world championships again.
“As F1’s biggest global star, he has also played a key role in shaping our commitments to diversity, inclusion and sustainability, that will be foundations for our success in the years ahead.
“George is a leading light of his generation. He has repaid the faith we showed in him when promoting him to a race seat in 2022.
“As a driver, he combines razor-sharp speed with the tenacity of a true fighter.
“He is a natural fit to the team and we are delighted to have extended the relationship for the coming years.”
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