Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are all set to do battle again as they share some»box-office» front at Sunday’s Italian GP, with home favourites Ferrari trying to eventually end Mercedes’ Monza dominance.
Leclerc, Ferrari’s brand new superstar who only held off Hamilton one week ago in Spa, begins on rod and are going to have the weight of a nation on his shoulders since the in-form youthful Monegasque bids to the Scuderia’s first win in front of their enthusiastic’Tifosi’ lovers since 2010.
The race begins at 2.10pm on Sky Sports F1, together with accumulation at 12.30pm.
«Seeing all of the lovers as crazy as [Saturday] was incredible,» Leclerc informed Sky F1 after topping a bizarre qualifying session. «I actually expect to see that way [on Sunday] below the podium.»
But with Sebastian Vettel fourth in the sister Ferrari, Leclerc is vulnerable.
Hamilton starts behind the 21-year-old and will direct Mercedes’ charge before Valtteri Bottas, and the Silver Arrows are convinced considering than they ever expected the fastest monitor of F1 they have been closer to Ferrari.
«I really like that it is that close and it’s not several tenths,» explained Hamilton, just 0.039s off Leclerc on Saturday.
Mercedes have won the past five races with Hamilton that the victor on each of these occasions. Before searching down Kimi Raikkonen’s after Ferrari’s qualifying one-two he handed Vettel to the first lap.
He is in an even greater position in 2019.
«I definitely think we can keep up with them,» added the championship leader, who will try to expand his 65-point benefit. «Whether or not we could close the gap and overtake them, time will tell.
«I need to be grateful that I’m on the front . We get to have a struggle with the Ferraris, that is fine. We’ve split them, so as a group it is a really good position for us to maintain.»
Leclerc stated:»It is going to become very, very difficult because, first of all, they are quick, secondly, slipstream and DRS are extremely important here. For sure it’s going to be hard to maintain them behind, although I believe the race pace is good, better than at Spa.
«I feel a very good start from myself and also from Seb will be quite crucial for the good result.» .
The possibility of Leclerc vs Hamilton enthuses sky F1’s Paul Di Resta .
«It has box office,» said Di Resta. «Ferrari on pole gets the crowd going. They have adopted Charles.
«Lewis has to do some overtaking to win this raceas he did this past year. Tricky conditions, it should be useful.»
Vettel, with no victory in over a year, will start before the Renaults with Daniel Ricciardo before Nico Hulkenberg Saturday, after their superb. With the fourth row is shared by Red Bull’s and carlos Sainz Alex Albon.
And watch out for a thrilling Max Verstappen series, behind Pierre Gasly who have engine penalties and Lando Norris , with the Dutchman prepared to perform a while as he begins at the rear 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, Racing Point
16) George Russell, Williams
17) Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
18) Lando Norris, McLaren
19) Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
20) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
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