With perfect weather in Monza Italy, Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth pole of the season and for once everything went to plan for the Briton. You have to go all the way back to Spain for Hamilton’s last pole which if you ask the Mercedes driver must feel like ages ago.
This is exactly what Hamilton needed, not just in regards to his championship points deficit but also from a phycological standpoint. Not so much from the fact Hamilton out performed teammate Nico Rosberg (although I’m sure that don’t hurt matters) but instead from the standpoint of not having to play catch up, which has been the case more often than not this year. All things being equal this will more than likely be the positions the Merc drivers will finish with in tomorrows race.
A row two lock-out for Martini Williams is great news for a team who according to James Allen have invested quite a bit finically in this year and for the years ahead. Now showing the fruits of that investment, if anything befalls Mercedes-Benz AMG it will be a Williams driver lifting the biggest trophy up on the podium and a bigs points haul for their constructors total.
Well, well, well McLaren finally showed up to a race, never mind it is race number thirteen and never mind it is a track which consists of straight tarmac for most of the lap. I am not yet convinced the silver and black cars will be able to challenge for a podium in Sunday’s race, but who knows, roll the dice and let’s see where they land for Woking.
Ferrari and Fernando Alonso probably did the best they could considering the issues which have plagued the F-14T this year. Realistically a podium is out of the question, but that being said who would have thought Alonso could have reach the second step in Hungry, or the third step in China?
Tire degradation is minimal this time around and that should help Ferrari and Fernando in regards to pulling something out of the hat. If you’re an Italian or a Ferrari fan there is always hope with the Spaniard. By the way Kimi Raikkonen is down in twelfth, so much of his come back…
Next up is Red Bull and on pure speed Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Riccardo where never going to be able to do much at the high speed circuit in the northern part of Italy. The best either driver can hope for are issues to befall the cars in front (reliability for the Mercs, botched pit stops for the Williams duo) and/or for a perfect strategy with tires to have any chance at a podium. However, Monza will more than likely be a race for honor and bragging rights between Vettel and Ricciardo.
Sergio Perez claimed the number ten position for Force India – I don’t expect much from them despite the Mercedes power plant in back of the car.
Of course what you and me, the fans trackside, the fans world wide will be most interested in, is the small right and then left at the beginning of the race and on lap two, and three, and four, and…
Italian Grand Prix Qualifying
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:25.363 1:24.560 1:24.109 20
2 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:25.493 1:24.600 1:24.383 19
3 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:26.012 1:24.858 1:24.697 16
4 Felipe Massa Williams 1:25.528 1:25.046 1:24.865 17
5 Kevin Magnussen McLaren 1:26.337 1:25.973 1:25.314 18
6 Jenson Button McLaren 1:26.328 1:25.630 1:25.379 18
7 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:26.514 1:25.525 1:25.430 17
8 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing 1:26.631 1:25.769 1:25.436 18
9 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 1:26.721 1:25.946 1:25.709 17
10 Sergio Perez Force India 1:26.569 1:25.863 1:25.944 23
11 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:26.261 1:26.070 16
12 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:26.689 1:26.110 13
13 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1:26.140 1:26.157 15
14 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1:26.371 1:26.279 18
15 Adrian Sutil Sauber 1:27.034 1:26.588 17
16 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 1:26.999 1:26.692 17
17 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1:27.520 8
18 Romain Grosjean Lotus 1:27.632 5
19 Kamui Kobayashi Caterham 1:27.671 9
20 Jules Bianchi Marussia 1:27.738 8
21 Max Chilton Marussia 1:28.247 8
22 Marcus Ericsson Caterham 1:28.562 9
