Here is the full text transcript from the qualifying session for the 2023 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at the Monza circuit:
After Carlos Sainz topped second and third practice, there is genuine belief that Ferrari could delight the tifosi with a home pole position in Monza. There are two huge Ferrari flags in the main grandstand on the home straight and the fans are jumping up and down. They believe Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz can be on pole here and why not? This should be their best chance to challenge Red Bull on pure pace, not only today, but tomorrow in the race. Monza is nearly all about straight line speed, braking and chicanes – similar characteristics to Montreal, where Ferrari were very quick all weekend, until it rained in Qualifying.
There will be no rain today though and we all know Charle Leclerc can pull off a spectacular lap when it matters most.
How does the Alternative Tyre Allocation work?
We’re about to see Alternative Tyre Allocation qualifying for just the second time in Formula 1.
The key bit is that:
In Q1 only the hard tyre will be available.
In Q2 only the medium tyre will be available.
In Q3 only the soft tyre will be available.
17 mins to go: The light goes green at the end of the pit lane and we’re under way. There’s no immediate action on track, as the drivers bide their time. Appropriately, it was the man of the moment Max Verstappen who eventually led the pack out on track. He and several others are just starting their first attempt at a flying lap now. We’ll let you know how they go…
12 mins to go: It appeared to be business as usual as Max Verstappen went to the top of the timesheet, but he’s had his time deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 7. That means it’s Alex Albon fastest from George Russell. Could Williams spring a surprise this afternoon? Max Verstappen still has plenty of time to put that error right, particularly with the track ramping up for these hard tyres.
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11 mins to go: The Ferraris are next to put in their first laps now but Carlos Sainz can only go fourth fastest, 0.198 seconds off Albon. For Charles Leclerc, his first lap puts him ninth and over three tenths off the pace.
9 mins to go: Could we have our first impeding investigation of the session? Lando Norris and Esteban Ocon just came close to making contact as the McLaren went past the Alpine. It’s unclear whether Norris was held up or the pair were just jostling for position on out laps.
8 mins to go: Here we go! Max Verstappen has now jumped back to the top of the timesheet now with a 1:21.573, his teammate Sergio Perez three tenths behind in second. Fernando Alonso is improving now and is in third and 0.470 seconds behind the leading Red Bull. Not in the bottom five, but certainly in danger at the moment, is Lewis Hamilton. He’s just improved, but is only currently 10th. It remains to be seen whether his 0.6s gap to the drop zone will be enough to see him through to Q2.
2 mins to go: Esteban Ocon appears to have done some damage to the floor of his Alpine by running wide at Turn 10. He and team-mate Pierre Gasly are currently 19th and 20th, respectively. They’ve got a big job to do as they head out for their final runs. That is an improvement for Lando Norris as he jumps up to fourth, 0.422 seconds off the pace. But McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri is now in 19th after having his latest flying lap deleted and could be on for a Q1 exit.
What a disaster for Alpine! Both Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon are out, and they weren’t even close to going through. Also out – and last on the grid – is Lance Stroll, who continues to underwhelm for Aston Martin. That was a little close for comfort for Mercedes’ George Russell, who edged through in 13th. Meanwhile, there’s a mighty effort from Liam Lawson, who advances in P12. It is quite the mix of drivers at the top of the timesheet from Q1, but Max Verstappen still leads the way: 1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull; 2) Alex Albon, Williams; 3) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari; 4) Yuki Tsunoda, Alpha Tauri; 5) Sergio Perez, Red Bull; Carlos Sainz finishes in seventh and Lewis Hamilton eighth, a brilliant late lap by Logan Sargeant putting him sixth.
Ferrraris under investigation over maximum lap time: Oh no! This could be terrible news for Ferrari and the tifosi. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are under investigation for failing to stay within the maximum lap time during Q1. We understand that will be fully reviewed after the session, and could potentially result in grid penalties.
14 mins to go in Q2: With that rather dark cloud hanging over Ferrari, Q2 begins. It’s medium tyres this time around. Once again, the track is quiet in the opening moments.
11 mins to go: We’re about to see our first Q2 flying laps, and it’s the Red Bull’s going first. Those Ferrari cars, who remain under investigation, are also out there being roared on by the tifosi. Ferrari definitely have some pace up their sleeve in any case! Carlos Sainz puts in a 1:20.991 to better Max Verstappen by 0.044s on the first medium tyre runs. Charles Leclerc is third, with the impressive Alex Albon in fourth ahead of Sergio Perez. A mixed bag for Mercedes there as Lewis Hamilton can only get to 12th after bailing out at the end of his lap. George Russell’s lap puts him sixth and 0.489 seconds off the pace. Lewis Hamilton suggests being held up by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez may have been a factor in his disappointing first attempt there. Nothing from the stewards on that yet. More concerningly for Mercedes, Hamilton has also just reported that he has “no grip”. He’s got a big challenge on his hands to make it through to Q3 it would appear.
2 mins to go: This doesn’t look like it’s going to end well. Almost the entire field have decided to head out at the exact same moment for their final flying laps. There’s going to be a lot of jostling for position over the next minute or so. Big sighs of relief for Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso, as they go through in 10th and ninth, respectively. Alonso made a mistake in the middle sector and was unable to improve, while McLaren just simply appeared to be lacking pace with Piastri only a couple of places above his team-mate in eighth. That was an encouraging effort from Liam Lawson despite his exit, finishing less than 0.2s off his AlphaTauri team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.
At the top of the timesheet in Q2, it is once again Max Verstappen who leads the way. Charles Leclerc was second and just 0.040 seconds off the leader, Carlos Sainz in third and 0.054 seconds off the pace. Sergio Perez and Alex Albon round out the top five in Q2. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are definitely in with a chance of pole, but still have that investigation hanging over them for going too slowly in Q1.
Pole position shootout begins! 11 mins to go: The 12-minute showdown is under way. It’s soft tyres this time around for everyone. First out on track are the Red Bulls – can anyone stop Max Verstappen. 6 mins to go: The Ferraris are flying and the tifosi are going wild. Charles Leclerc comes through faster than Max Verstappen, but as has been the case for most of the weekend, Carlos Sainz goes back to the top of the timesheet with a 1:20.532. Just a tenth of a second separates the top three – this is very tight! After his first run, Lewis Hamilton sits in ninth and 0.766 seconds off the pace.
2 mins to go: Thankfully the field, now reduced to 10, seem to have given each other a bit more space this time around. Does Max Verstappen have an answer to Ferrari’s speed? We’re about to find out. Amazing! What a contest we’ve just seen. Charles Leclerc went fastest, then Max Verstappen, then Carlos Sainz retook top spot. The trio are separated by just 0.067s, and the tifosi are dancing in the grandstands.
Q3: TOP TEN!
1) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
4) George Russell, Mercedes
5) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
6) Alex Albon, Williams
7) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
8) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
9) Lando Norris, McLaren
10) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
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