Valtteri Bottas claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix Sprint after snatching top spot in Friday’s qualifying from his Mercedes t...
Valtteri Bottas claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix Sprint after snatching top spot in Friday’s qualifying from his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Finn Bottas clocked one minute, 19.555 seconds on his last qualifying lap at Monza to finish just 0.096 sec ahead of seven-time world champion Hamilton, who had been fastest in the first two qualifying sessions and practice and had been leading Q3 until he was pipped in the final moments.
That means 32-year-old Bottas will lead the field in Saturday’s 100km Sprint, which will decide the grid for the GP on Sunday and give championship points to the top three.
First place in the Sprint will take three points, second place two and third place one.
However Bottas will start at the back of the grid on Sunday regardless of how he fares in the Sprint as he was penalised for taking on power unit components.
“That qualifying lap was nice. It feels so good when you get a nice lap,” said Bottas, who will join Alfa Romeo next season.
“I feel good, I feel relaxed and everything is sorted for the future.”
Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen took third, 0.411sec off Bottas, as he tries to defend his tiny three-point lead from Hamilton, who on Sunday will again...
