LEWIS HAMILTON WILL start the Italian Grand Prix on pole position, but his advantage could be compromised by starting on a damaged tyre.
Hamilton set the fastest time in Q2 at Monza on Saturday, but flat-spotted his front-right tyre and was unable to set a quicker lap in the session – which determines which rubber drivers will start the race with.
Leading the championship by nine points, Hamilton could apply to replace the tyre if it is seriously damaged – as he did successfully earlier this season in Baku – but his opening stint could be compromised if stewards decide safety is not an issue.
The Silver Arrows were in a class of their own at the ‘Temple of Speed’, easing to the top of the timesheets on harder compounds than their main rivals Ferrari and Red Bull in Q2 and Sunday will surely be a straight shootout between Hamilton and Rosberg.
Hamilton may well be on even another level to his stable-mate, clocking a fastest time of one minute, 21.135 seconds, almost half a second quicker than Rosberg, and taking top spot in every session.
The omens are strong for Hamilton, who has won from pole in each of the last two seasons – the streak of pole-sitting victories at Monza stretches back to 2010.
Behind Mercedes come Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, with the Scuderia desperate for a strong weekend in front of their passionate fans in the midst of a dismal season so far.
A strong start could put the red cars ahead off the line, but Vettel and Raikkonen need errors from Hamilton or Rosberg if they are to have a hope of victory.
Mercedes power helped Valtteri Bottas take fifth ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen – who should be well out of the way of Vettel and Raikkonen after their squabbles in Belgium last week.
The Mercedes-assisted Force India pair of Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg are next on the grid, with Esteban Gutierrez to start 10th after taking a Haas car into Q3 for the first time in their short F1 history.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:21.135
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) +0.487 seconds
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +0.837secs
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +0.930secs
5. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) +1.253secs
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) +1.254secs
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +1.276secs
8. Sergio Perez (Force India) +1.679secs
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) +1.701secs
10. Esteban Gutierrez (Haas) +2.049
Hamilton has a good record in Monza so it will be interesting to see if Rosberg can overhaul him. He needs to!
Worth remembering the host of problems Hamilton had in the first few races. He managed to overhaul a 40 plus point deficit and turn it into a 9 point lead. The safety car and race stoppage did play into his favour at Spa, but I think he still has the psychological edge over Rosberg. Hamilton loves the Monza circuit, winning 3 of the last 4 GPs there. That half second difference in qualifying over Rosberg can’t be ignored. That’s huge at this level and between teammates. If Rosberg really wants this, then this race is where he needs to prove it.
Is it too much to ask to give the full starting grid for the race?
1. Lewis Hamilton 1’21.135
Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg 1’21.613
Mercedes
3. Sebastian Vettel 1’21.972
Ferrari
4. Kimi Raikkonen 1’22.065
Ferrari
5. Valtteri Bottas 1’22.388
Williams
6. Daniel Ricciardo 1’22.389
Red Bull
7. Max Verstappen 1’22.411
Red Bull
8. Sergio Perez 1’22.814
Force India
9. Nico Hulkenberg 1’22.836
Force India
10. Esteban Gutierrez 1’23.184
Haas
11. Felipe Massa 1’22.967
Williams
12. Fernando Alonso 1’23.273
McLaren
13. Pascal Wehrlein 1’23.315
Manor
14. Jenson Button 1’23.399
McLaren
15. Carlos Sainz Jnr 1’23.496
Toro Rosso
16. Daniil Kvyat 1’23.825
Toro Rosso
17. Romain Grosjean* 1’23.092
Haas
18. Felipe Nasr 1’23.956
Sauber
19. Marcus Ericsson 1’24.087
Sauber
20. Jolyon Palmer 1’24.230
Renault
21. Kevin Magnussen 1’24.436
Renault
22. Esteban Ocon No time
Manor
Thank you!
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