Valtteri Bottas won F1’s second ever sprint ‘race,’ leading in Monza from start to finish.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took second after jumping title rival Lewis Hamilton off the line, the Briton having a poor start, something that has been a feature of his season.
Both McLarens also got ahead of the Mercedes driver, Daniel Ricciardo finishing third ahead of teammate Lando Norris who kept Hamilton behind for the rest of the race.
With Hamilton finishing fifth, Verstappen also gained two points over his rival to extend his championship lead to five.
Most importantly, the results of the sprint setting the grid for Sunday’s race, the Dutchman will start from pole because Bottas changed his entire power unit ahead of this weekend, meaning he will start from last after taking penalties.
It could therefore be a pivotal weekend in the championship – Red Bull having not won at Monza since 2013, Hamilton was expected to gain points on Verstappen around a track where Mercedes traditionally go well at.
Elsewhere, the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will line up next to each other on the third row of the grid, the Monegasque overtaking the Spaniard after starting behind him.
Antonio Giovinazzi will start from 7th for the second consecutive week, ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.
Lance Stroll enjoyed a strong sprint, making up three places to qualify in 9th, ahead of two-time Monza winner Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard rounding out the top 10 in his Alpine.
Nicholas Latifi finished 13th ahead of George Russell, meaning the Canadian outqualified his teammate for the first time in his Williams career.
Pierre Gasly, who started the sprint in sixth, crashed round the Curva Grande on lap 1 after clipping Daniel Ricciardo at the first chicane and losing his front wing. The Frenchman, who won last year’s race in emotional circumstances, will start from the pitlane.
Verdict on the sprint
Lap 1 provided a lot of action, Hamilton being overtaken by three drivers and Gasly having an unfortunate crash. Further down the field there was also a spin for Robert Kubica, the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda doing well to avoid the Alfa Romeo driver.
Thereafter, however, there were not a great deal of overtakes, the excitement not matching that enjoyed at the first sprint at Silverstone.
Whether that was down to drivers not taking risks because the points are handed out on Sunday, or because of slipstream and DRS trains, it is hard to say.
Nonetheless, the sprint still provides far more action than an additional practice session would do.
Moreover, by having them on the Saturday, there is exciting on-track action on every single day of the weekend with qualifying moving to Friday evening.
With one more sprint to come this season, they would therefore be a welcome addition across more weekends next year.
Sprint qualifying results:
- Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) – will start from the back
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
- Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
- George Russell (Williams)
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
- Nikita Mazepin (Haas)
- Robert Kubica (Alfa Romeo)
- Mick Schumacher (Haas)
DNF – Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) – will start from the pitlane
