Max Verstappen snatched pole from Lando Norris in a thrilling qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix, with championship leader Oscar Pisatri in third.
Norris narrowly avoided a shock Q2 elimination but took provisional pole towards the end of Q3 until Verstappen’s superb last-gasp effort saw him beat the McLaren driver by 0.077s – setting a new lap record around the iconic Monza circuit and posting the fastest lap by average speed in F1 history.
Piastri will start behind Norris as he looks to prevent his team-mate from making inroads into his 34-point advantage in the Drivers’ Championship with nine rounds remaining, starting with Sunday’s race at 2pm on Sky Sports F1.
“Classic Verstappen,” reacted Sky Sports F1‘s Martin Brundle. “Pulls a lap out of the bag, finds some speed and confidence, and commits. He has absolutely stolen that pole position away from the McLarens.”
There were high hopes for Ferrari on home soil but Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were unable to improve their times on their final Q3 runs, so dropped to fourth and fifth respectively.
Hamilton will start 10th due to a five-grid place penalty for not slowing sufficiently under yellow flags on his way to the grid at last Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix.
George Russell was quick at times in qualifying but could only manage sixth, ahead of Kimi Antonelli, who was back on track after a difficult run of performances, in seventh.
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Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar hit out at team-mate Carlos Sainz after dropping out of Q1 at the Italian Grand Prix
Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto impressed in eighth, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in ninth and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in 10th.
Isack Hadjar was eliminated in Q1 for the first time in his career, just one week on from his maiden F1 podium. Racing Bulls will change his power unit which means Hadjar will start from the pit lane.
Sky Sports F1’s Italian GP Schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Italian Grand Prix
Sunday September 7
7.10am: F3 Feature Race
8.40am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s European season concludes with the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday with lights out at 2pm and build-up from 12.30pm on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime