MONZA, Italy — Max Verstappen will start
the Italian Grand Prix in pole position despite finishing second in Saturday's
qualifying sprint at Monza.
Mercedes
driver Valtteri Bottas won the 18-lap race ahead of Verstappen, but the Finn
was already condemned to start Sunday's race at the back of the grid after
being penalized for taking on power unit components in qualifying on Friday.
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Red
Bull's
Verstappen also claimed two championship points to extend his lead on
Lewis Hamilton to five after the reigning champion finished fifth, some 20
seconds off the pace.
"That
went a little bit better than expected," said Verstappen.
"Up
to second, scored some points, up to pole tomorrow. It's going to be an
interesting battle tomorrow."
Hamilton
had started the sprint in second behind teammate Bottas but was overtaken by
Verstappen and dropped back in the field after a dreadful start which will make
his latest bid for a 100th victory that much harder.
Alongside
Verstappen on the front row will be McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo, who also
breezed past Hamilton in the opening moments and held on to third position to
claim second in the grid.
Ricciardo
promised "full attack" against Verstappen on Sunday even though he
finished over 12 seconds behind the Dutchman and he will have his teammate
Lando Norris backing him up in the second row after he finished fourth.
Seven-time
F1 champion Hamilton has been stuck on 99 wins since victory at the British GP
in July, but after strong displays in both practices and qualifying looked in
good shape to make his century.
However,
he will have his work cut out for him from the second row after Verstappen and
Ricciardo came up either side of him in a chaotic start.
French
AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly would also have stolen a place on the Briton had
he not then slid off the track at the first bend after making contact with
Ricciardo.
"We've
got to try and figure out how to get by the McLarens tomorrow and try and limit
the damage," said a disappointed Hamilton.
"Now
they (Red Bull) are on pole so it should be an easy race win."
Just
behind Hamilton in the third row will be Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who won at
Monza in 2019 and is hoping for the home support to help push the Scuderia to
another good result.
His
teammate Carlos Sainz will be alongside him after finishing seventh having
crashed out of practice earlier on Saturday and then having to sweat on his car
being repaired in time for the sprint.
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