Carlos Sainz edged out Max Verstappen of Red Bull to secure the premier grid position for Ferrari’s home race, winning by a mere 0.013 seconds. His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc wasn’t far behind, trailing by just 0.054 seconds to finish in third place.
The Spaniard elaborated that although he had dominated both FP2 and FP3 over the weekend, and secured a second-place finish behind Verstappen in FP1, it wasn’t until his ultimate qualifying attempts that he decided to gamble and push his SF-23 to the boundaries. This was particularly true through the series of pivotal corners at the Monza park circuit.
In a post-qualifying interview with F1 Flow.com, Sainz stated that his strategy at Monza was quite “par for the course.” He then disclosed that his mental preparation for the final laps harked back to his previous flying laps at Monza, specifically recalling his time with McLaren in the 2019-2020 season.
He said, “In practice here, the car feels so light that you’re generally hesitant to push it to its absolute limit—something you must do in the third qualifying round (Q3). I’ve had some memorable laps in Q3 here before, and my time at McLaren and even my performance last year around Ascari and Parabolica come to mind. It’s about shedding that caution and going all-in to risk it all.”
Sainz continued, “Today was no different. I rounded that incredibly fast corner, the car felt as if it was gliding on air, and all you can do is pray it holds—and it did, just as it had been doing all weekend long. It was a successful run, enabling me to clinch pole position by the slimmest of margins.”
Greeted with a roar of approval from the throng of Ferrari enthusiasts when he outpaced Verstappen for his fourth career pole, Sainz also expressed how much he relished the entire qualifying session during the following press conference.
He further commented, “It was an absolute blast. The competition was fierce right from the first run of Q3, where all three of us clocked in at around 1m20.5s [Verstappen actually registered a 1m20.631s]. I was aware it was going to be a nail-biter, hinging on the nitty-gritty details and the calculated risks taken in the second run. And boy, was it exhilarating.”
Photo Credit: Simon Galloway / F1 Flow Images
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Carlos Sainz Italian GP Pole Position
What event is the article about?
The article is about Carlos Sainz securing the pole position for the Italian Grand Prix, which is Ferrari’s home race.
Who did Carlos Sainz beat to claim the pole position?
Carlos Sainz edged out Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing to claim the top spot on the grid. He won by a very narrow margin of 0.013 seconds.
What car was Carlos Sainz driving?
Carlos Sainz was driving the Ferrari SF-23 during the qualifying rounds and eventually the race.
How did Sainz describe his approach to the Monza circuit?
Sainz described his approach as “typical here in Monza,” explaining that the car feels so light on this track that you’re generally hesitant to push it to the absolute limits during practice. He mentioned that the approach involves calculated risks, especially in the Q3 qualifying round.
What prior experience influenced Sainz’s performance?
Sainz cited his previous stint with McLaren during the 2019-2020 season as a significant influence on his performance. He recalled having good runs around the Ascari and Parabolica corners, which helped him take risks and push the car to its limit.
How did the Ferrari fans react to Sainz’s pole position?
Sainz received a rapturous reception from the mass of Ferrari fans present when he clinched the pole position, making it the fourth of his F1 career.
What did Sainz say about the competition in the qualifying session?
Sainz stated that he enjoyed the competition a lot, starting from the first run of Q3. He noted that all competitors had similar timings, making the session super tight and hinging on minor details and risks taken in the second run.
Was this Sainz’s first pole position?
No, this was the fourth pole position of Carlos Sainz’s F1 career.
What were some of the other notable moments mentioned in the article?
The article also mentioned how Charles Leclerc, Sainz’s teammate, finished in third place just 0.054s behind. Additionally, it references Verstappen’s initial Q3 timing and how he believed Red Bull’s wing setup should be better suited for the Monza F1 race.
How did Sainz feel about the entire qualifying session?
Sainz expressed that he had “good fun” during the qualifying session and found it to be “really exhilarating.” He relished the battle and the fierce competition throughout.
More about Carlos Sainz Italian GP Pole Position
- Carlos Sainz Career Highlights
- Max Verstappen’s Previous Performances
- Ferrari’s 2023 F1 Season Overview
- The History of the Italian Grand Prix
- F1 Qualifying Rules and Procedures
- Inside McLaren’s F1 Team: Sainz’s 2019-2020 Tenure
- Charles Leclerc’s 2023 Season
- Monza Circuit: The Temple of Speed
- F1 2023 Drivers and Teams
- The Importance of Pole Position in F1 Racing
10 comments
Sainz’s focus on the small details paid off, big time! It’s all about the nitty-gritty when the margins are this close.
Is it just me or does the Ferrari SF-23 look like it’s on another level this season? Sainz and Leclerc both in the top 3 is no joke.
Ferrari fans must be on cloud 9 right now. But remember folks, pole position doesn’t always guarantee a win. Let’s see what happens on race day.
Sainz says it was “typical in Monza,” but you gotta admit, there’s nothin typical bout snagging pole by hundredths of a second. Epic.
Not surprised Sainz mentioned Monza’s like that. That track’s a beast, but Max will get him on race day, just watch.
Man, Sainz is just killin it this season. Who woulda thought he’d be the one to edge out Verstappen! Go Ferrari!
Absolutely loved how Sainz credited his McLaren experience. Shows maturity and appreciation for his journey.
That 0.013 sec tho! Talk about a close call. Sainz is the man. Leclerc ain’t too shabby either.
Did anyone else notice Sainz mentioned his good run around Ascari and Parabolica? Shows he’s really in tune with every corner of the track.
kinda miss Sainz in a McLaren jersey. But gotta admit, the guy’s making waves at Ferrari. He’s come a long way since his McLaren days.