Tokyo, 11 September, /AJMEDIA/
Charles Leclerc will be looking to reignite the Formula One championship race on his home track after clinching pole position for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, according to AP.
Runaway points leader Max Verstappen will again have to try and fight his way to the front after being among the many drivers to be hit with grid penalties.
Leclerc set the fastest time on his last lap in Saturday’s qualifying and knew he would start at the front of the grid even before Verstappen crossed 0.145 seconds slower, meaning the Ferrari driver secured pole on merit and not just because of his rival’s grid penalties.
Carlos Sainz was third fastest but he will not start alongside his Ferrari teammate on the front row as he has also been given penalties and will start at the back of the grid, ahead of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda.
Nine drivers in total received grid penalties. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez finished fourth, ahead of the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and George Russell, but it is Russell who will start alongside Leclerc on Sunday.
McLaren driver Lando Norris, who was seventh fastest, will start in third.
