In a heart-stopping one-hour qualifying session on Friday, divided into three nail-biting segments, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari emerged victorious. He will lead the pack on Sunday’s race, followed by Max Verstappen of Red Bull and his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.
Related Reads:
- Shock and Awe at Monza: Sainz Overtakes Verstappen for Pole
- Italian Grand Prix Lineup: Sainz Leads, Verstappen in Pursuit
Qualifying Results – A Snapshot
- Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari – 1’20.294
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull/Honda – 1’20.307 (0.013 behind)
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 1’20.361 (0.067 behind)
- George Russell, Mercedes – 1’20.671 (0.377 behind)
- Sergio Pérez, Red Bull/Honda – 1’20.688 (0.394 behind)
… [and the list goes on]
Italian Grand Prix Q1 Highlights:
The first segment of qualifying, also known as Q1, started on hard tyres as dictated by the tire allocation rules. Max Verstappen clocked the fastest time of 1m21.573s, despite having one of his lap times deleted for crossing the track limits.
The Ferraris found themselves in hot water for not meeting the minimum lap times. However, after a stewards’ review, they escaped further action. Unlucky drivers eliminated in Q1 included Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo, the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon (who had an uncomfortable run-in with the gravel at Ascari), Kevin Magnussen of Haas, and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin.
Q1 Leaderboard: Verstappen Speeds Ahead
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull/Honda – 1’21.573
- Alexander Albon, Williams/Mercedes – 1’21.661 (0.088 behind)
… [and the list goes on]
Italian Grand Prix Q2 Highlights:
In Q2, the drama continued. Drivers switched to medium tires. Carlos Sainz got off to a great start with a time of 1m20.991s, only to be narrowly beaten by Verstappen and his own teammate, Leclerc. The losers in this round were Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson of AlphaTauri, Nico Hulkenberg of Haas, and Logan Sargeant of Williams, who had to pack up their helmets and watch the rest from the sidelines.
Q2 Leaderboard: Leclerc Edges Out Sainz
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull/Honda – 1’20.937
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 1’20.977 (0.040 behind)
… [and the list goes on]
Italian Grand Prix Q3 Highlights:
As the drivers donned soft tires for Q3, the stage was set for a Ferrari 1-2, initially led by Sainz. However, Verstappen had other plans, briefly taking the lead before Sainz reclaimed pole position in the dying seconds by a mere 0.013s. George Russell of Mercedes claimed the fourth spot, ahead of Sergio Pérez from Red Bull, Alex Albon of Williams, and others.
Q3 Leaderboard: Sainz Secures Pole
- Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari – 1’20.294
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull/Honda – 1’20.307 (0.013 behind)
… [and the list goes on]
Further Reading:
- McLaren Quashes Rumors About Norris Switching to Red Bull
- F1 Decides on the Fate of Italy’s Two Grands Prix
- How Monza Lost One of Its Legendary Features Ahead of F1 2023
So, as the Italian air fills with the scent of burning rubber and marinara (hey, we’re in Italy), all eyes will be on the starting line this Sunday. Will Sainz keep his lead, or will Verstappen zoom past him like a Dutch windmill in overdrive? Tune in to find out!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about 2023 F1 Italian GP Qualifying Results
Who secured the pole position for the 2023 F1 Italian Grand Prix?
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari secured the pole position with a time of 1’20.294.
Which drivers make up the top 3 for the starting grid?
The top 3 drivers on the starting grid are Carlos Sainz from Ferrari, Max Verstappen from Red Bull, and Charles Leclerc also from Ferrari.
What was the time gap between Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen?
Carlos Sainz edged out Max Verstappen by a mere 0.013 seconds.
What tire compounds were used during the qualifying sessions?
Hard rubber was used in Q1, medium tires were used in Q2, and soft tires were employed for Q3.
Which drivers got knocked out in the Q1 session?
Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo, the Alpine team’s Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen of Haas, and Lance Stroll from Aston Martin were eliminated in Q1.
Who set the fastest time in Q1?
Max Verstappen set the fastest time in Q1 with a lap of 1m21.573s.
What happened to the Ferraris in Q1?
Both Ferraris faced a stewards inquiry for not adhering to the minimum lap times, but no further action was taken.
Who surprised in Q2?
Charles Leclerc initially beat Carlos Sainz’s time, only for Max Verstappen to swoop in at the last moment with a 1m20.937s lap, denying a Ferrari 1-2.
What drama unfolded in the final seconds of Q3?
The pole position changed hands three times in the final moments of Q3, with Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and Carlos Sainz all briefly holding the top spot. In the end, Sainz clinched it with a 1m20.294s lap.
Where will George Russell start on the grid?
George Russell will start in fourth position, driving for Mercedes.
More about 2023 F1 Italian GP Qualifying Results
- Official F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix Qualifying Results
- Carlos Sainz’s F1 Career Stats
- Max Verstappen’s Performance Highlights
- Detailed Breakdown of Q1, Q2, and Q3
- F1 Tire Strategy Explained
- Ferraris’ Inquiry by Stewards: Full Report
- Surprise Moments in F1 Qualifying Rounds
- George Russell’s 2023 Season Performance
- Interview with Carlos Sainz Post-Qualifying
- Inside the Cockpit: A Lap with Max Verstappen
- The Rivalry: Ferrari vs Red Bull in 2023
- How Teams Prepare for Qualifying: An In-depth Look
10 comments
Stewards inquiry on Ferrari and then no action? Suspicious much.
Whoa, Sainz killing it for Ferrari! Love the shakeup. Where was Lewis though? Dude seemed lost.
lol, McLaren’s Norris and Piastri are like the dark horses this season. Keep an eye on em.
gotta admit, those final seconds of Q3 were insane. Leclerc, then Max and then Sainz! heart attack material.
This is nuts. Verstappen must be kicking himself for that one, so close. Leclerc too. Ferrari’s game is strong this year.
Surprised they managed such times on hard tyres in Q1. Shows how far tech’s come.
This whole thing is setting up a wild race day. Strap in, folks.
Lewis Hamilton, the 7-time champ, at 8th? Didn’t see that comin.
Max got robbed! One tiny mistake and boom. But he’s gonna come back in the race, just wait n see.
Did anyone else see that crazy lap by Albon? Williams showing some real promise. Finally!