Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are set to do battle again as they discuss with a»box-office» front row at Sunday’s Italian GP, with home favourites Ferrari attempting to finally end Mercedes’ Monza dominance.
Leclerc, Ferrari’s new superstar who just held off Hamilton one week back in Spa, begins on pole and will have the weight of a country on his shoulders as the in-form young Monegasque bids to the Scuderia’s first win before their enthusiastic’Tifosi’ fans since 2010.
The race begins at 2.10pm Sky Sports F1, together with accumulation at 12.30pm.
«Seeing all of the fans as mad as [Saturday] was incredible,» Leclerc informed Sky F1 after rolling out a bizarre qualifying session. «I actually expect to see that way [on Sunday] below the podium.»
However, with Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari, Leclerc is exposed.
Hamilton starts behind the 21-year-old and will direct Mercedes’ charge ahead of Valtteri Bottas, along with also the Silver Arrows are convinced considering they’ve been closer to Ferrari than they anticipated F1’s fastest monitor.
«I love that it’s that close and it is not several tenths,» explained Hamilton, just 0.039s off Leclerc on Saturday.
Together with Hamilton the victor on each of those events mercedes have won the past five races at Monza. He passed Vettel to the first lap before searching following Ferrari’s qualifying one-two.
He is in a much better position in 2019.
«I definitely believe we could keep them up,» added that the championship leader, that will look to expand his 65-point benefit. «Whether we could close the gap and then overtake them, time will tell.
«I need to be grateful that I am on the front row. We get to get a struggle. We have split themas a group it’s a excellent place for us to maintain.»
Leclerc stated:»It is going to become very, very difficult because, to start with, they are quick, second, slipstream and DRS are extremely important . For certain it is going to be quite difficult to keep them behind, although I believe the race rate is quite good, better than at Spa.
«I think a very good start from myself and also from Seb will be extremely critical for the great outcome.» .
Sky F1’s Paul Di Resta is enthused by the possibility of Leclerc vs Hamilton again.
«It is box office,» said Di Resta. «Ferrari on pole gets the audience going. They’ve embraced Charles.
«Lewis must do a little overtaking to acquire this raceas he did this past year. Tricky circumstances, it ought to be helpful.»
Vettel, before the Renaults, will start with no victory in over a year with Daniel Ricciardo before Nico Hulkenberg Saturday, following their superb. Red Bull’s and carlos Sainz Alex Albon reveal the row.
And watch out for an Max Verstappen show, behind Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly who have motor penalties with the Dutchman ready to do some overtaking as he starts at the back of the grid.
Italian GP Provisional Grid
1) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
3) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
4) Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
5) Daniel Ricciardo, Renault
6) Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
7) Carlos Sainz, McLaren
8) Alex Albon, Red Bull
9) Lance Stroll, Racing Point
10) Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo
11) Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
12) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
13) Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
14) Romain Grosjean, Haas
15) Sergio Perez, swaying Point
16) George Russell, Williams
17) Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
18) Lando Norris, McLaren
19) Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
20) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
Read more here: http://usecuritygt.com/wp/?p=3830