We look set for a thrilling race tomorrow at the 2015 Formula One Italian Grand Prix, with local team Ferrari putting in an impressive performance during today’s qualifying session and wowing the crowds. But the Prancing Horse still missed out on the top spot after Mercedes AMG’s Lewis Hamilton put in an unbeatable 1:23.397 in Q3, and in the process secured his seventh consecutive pole and his 11th of the season.
Kimi Räikkönen will join Hamilton on the front row after he put in time of 1.23.631, while Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel will start at third thanks to his 1.23.685. Filling out fourth place will be Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg whose best time was a 1:23.703.
The next row down will be filled by the Williams drivers, with Felipe Massa starting at fifth and Valtteri Bottas at sixth. At seventh on the grid tomorrow will be Force India’s Sergio Perez and at eighth will be Lotus man Romain Grosjean. Force India’s other driver Nico Hulkenberg will start at ninth and Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson will round out the top ten.
As previously reported, multiple engine and gearbox changes have taken place and will affect the positions of McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo, and Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen. Dutch youngster Verstappen was the only driver failing to set a time today, due to car trouble.
Although there was some rain earlier today at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the weather forecast for tomorrow’s race calls for sunny skies and warm conditions. Going into the event, Hamilton leads the 2015 Drivers’ Championship with 227 points. Rosberg is second with 199 points and Vettel third with 160 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes leads with 426 points followed by Ferrari with 242 points and Williams with 161 points.
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