Lewis Hamilton secures pole position for Italian Grand Prix as Mercedes star qualifies fastest ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen
- Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton secures seventh consecutive pole position
- Hamilton fastest ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari
- Nico Rosberg was forced to change his engine and will start in fourth
- Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso fail to make it out of Q3 at Monza
- Italian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday
The gap between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg yawned a little wider at Monza on Saturday – with the Briton taking pole and the German only fourth fastest in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix.
The two Mercedes men are separated by the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen, in second, and Sebastian Vettel, third.
The strength of Ferrari at their home track was welcomed by the vocal, flag-waving tifosi, though Hamilton’s seventh pole position in succession, and 11th from 12 races this season, was secure. He was over two-tenths faster than Raikkonen, who was only recently confirmed as a Ferrari driver for next year.
Lewis Hamilton (c) has qualified fastest for the Italian GP ahead of Kimi Raikkonen (r) and Sebastian Vettel (l)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was fastest in all sessions at Monza on Saturday and dominated
Hamilton celebrates after securing his seventh consecutive pole position - and his 11th of the season
Kimi Raikkonen impressed in Q3 and was second fastest behind Hamilton in his Ferrari
Ferrari will also have Sebastian Vettel near the front as the four-time world champion qualified in third
The two men waved to the crowd in the sun at Monza, where hopes are rising that the circuit will agree a deal with Bernie Ecclestone to keep a grand prix here in the long term.
Rosberg, who became a father for the first time last Sunday, reverted to the engine he used at Spa a fortnight ago after suffering problems with his new one in practice. It reduced the power at his disposal.
Hamilton has been fastest in all six sessions here this weekend. Unless anyone can get a jump on him at the start, a long straight into a right-left-hander, he is favourite to extend his 28-point lead.
‘The car was feeling good all weeekend,’ said Hamilton.
McLaren had another afternoon to forget with both Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button going out of qualifying in the first session. So did Max Verstappen, when the back of his Toro Rosso fell off, scattering itself over the track.
Nico Rosberg was forced to change his engine and could only manage a fourth-place finish in Q3
Toro Rosso youngster Max Verstappen saw his engine cover fly off during his one and only lap in Q1
Before qualifying started, Sir Jackie Stewart marked the 50th anniversary of his first grand prix victory.
In 1965, having qualified third, Stewart prevailed in an astonishing race that saw the lead change 40 times in a duel with Jim Clark, Graham Hill and John Surtees. He won 26 more races and three world drivers’ tiles in 1969, 1971 and 1973.
‘It’s a fantastic feeling to return to the track at Monza where it all began 50 years ago,’ said Stewart.
‘The track has changed a huge amount since my first win, but there’s still an incredible atmosphere here with some of the greatest fans in the world and I was honoured to drive the fantastic BRM here this weekend.’
McLaren driver Jenson Button waits in the paddock during another frustrating day for the British team
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