Alonso takes Ferrari’s first pole of 2010 in Monza (Italian Grand Prix qualifying)
Fernando Alonso will start from pole position for Ferrari in tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix.
With Jenson Button taking second place for McLaren there is no Red Bull on the front row for the first time this year.
Felipe Massa took third place ahead of Mark Webber.
Q1
Timo Glock was the first driver out on the track but that didn’t mean he could enjoy a traffic-free run. Renault inexplicably sent Vitaly Petrov out just in time to hold up Glock as the Virgin driver reached the first chicane.
An engine problem on Vitantonio Liuzzi’s car left him stuck in 18th place and unable to progress into Q2.
The Lotus pair managed to beat Liuzzi’s time before the end of the session to take 18th but was over a second behind the next driver.
Felipe Massa was the fastest driver in the first part of qualifying ahead of his team mate and the two McLarens.
Q2
Unusually, Hamilton went out on soft tyres at the start of Q2 while his principal title rivals went out on hards. They all returned to the track after their first runs to try a lap on soft tyres.
Alonso didn’t need to, because his lap on hard tyres was quicker than Hamilton’s on softs. Hamilton ended the session third behind his team mate, who improved to second with his soft tyre lap.
Mercedes power failed to help Adrian Sutil and Michael Schumacher into the top ten – they ended up 11th and 12th.
The two Saubers and Toro Rossos were also knocked out, along with Petrov.
Q3
The Ferraris, McLarens and Red Bulls all headed out together at the start of the final ten minutes for the qualifying showdown.
Alonso became the first man to dip under the 1’22 mark, setting a 1’21.962. Meanwhile Hamilton made a mistake at the Roggia chicane, leaving him fourth behind Massa and Button.
Massa stayed out for another lap while the rest pitted, but he wasn’t able to move up from third place.
Alonso’s time proved so good that he couldn’t do any better on his next effort. Fortunately for him, nor could anyone else. Button improved to a 1’22.084 to cement second place while Massa held third.
A late improvement from Mark Webber moved him up to fourth ahead of Lewis Hamilton and team mate Sebastian Vettel. Red Bull failed to get a car on the front row for the first time since last year’s Italian Grand Prix.
Full qualifying times
| Pos. | # | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
| 1 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’22.646 | 1’22.297 | 1’21.962 |
| 2 | 1 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’23.085 | 1’22.354 | 1’22.084 |
| 3 | 7 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’22.421 | 1’22.610 | 1’22.293 |
| 4 | 6 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’23.431 | 1’22.706 | 1’22.433 |
| 5 | 2 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’22.830 | 1’22.394 | 1’22.623 |
| 6 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’23.235 | 1’22.701 | 1’22.675 |
| 7 | 4 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’23.529 | 1’23.055 | 1’23.027 |
| 8 | 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1’23.516 | 1’22.989 | 1’23.037 |
| 9 | 11 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1’23.234 | 1’22.880 | 1’23.039 |
| 10 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1’23.695 | 1’23.142 | 1’23.328 |
| 11 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1’23.493 | 1’23.199 | |
| 12 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’23.840 | 1’23.388 | |
| 13 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’24.273 | 1’23.659 | |
| 14 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’23.744 | 1’23.681 | |
| 15 | 12 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1’24.086 | 1’23.819 | |
| 16 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’24.083 | 1’23.919 | |
| 17 | 22 | Pedro de la Rosa | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’24.442 | 1’24.044 | |
| 18 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’25.540 | ||
| 19 | 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’25.742 | ||
| 20 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1’25.774 | ||
| 21 | 25 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’25.974 | ||
| 22 | 21 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1’26.847 | ||
| 23 | 20 | Sakon Yamamoto | HRT-Cosworth | 1’27.020 | ||
| 24 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’25.934 |
2010 Italian Grand Prix
- Technical review: Italian Grand Prix
- Jamey Price watches the Italian Grand Prix at Monza
- Hamilton: “I could have done some passing”
- Sutil: “I was in the wrong place everywhere”
- Hülkenberg’s drive “his best to date”
- 2010 Italian Grand Prix – the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review
- Who was the best driver of the Italian Grand Prix weekend? (Poll)
- Late scare with de la Rosa can’t keep Alonso from victory (Ferrari race review)
- Set-up gamble pays off for Button as Hamilton crashes (McLaren race review)
- Vettel recovers to surprise fourth after mid-race drama (Red Bull race review)
Image © Ferrari spa
Damon said on 11th September 2010, 14:48
If the result tomorow is the same as today, then Hamilton as blown his championship and it’s all his fault. Hamilton needs a 1st or 2nd because all the other races will probably be all redbull. He blows it at the crucial points yet again, I’m really dissapointed in him, there’s no excuses
InternetF1Fan said on 11th September 2010, 15:12
To be honest this year wasn’t his championship to win anyway. Red Bull is just so much quicker. The fact that he is even in the championship battle with the inferior car speaks volumes.
Patrickl (@patrickl) said on 11th September 2010, 15:31
9 out of 10 of the first races were Red Bull’s to win too. Yet Hamilton is still in front.
Oliver said on 11th September 2010, 15:31
Was it Hamilton who chose the setup or the engineers?
Dizzy-A (@david-a) said on 11th September 2010, 15:46
For how long have all the circuits supposedly suited Red Bull only for their drivers to throw away crucial points?
MouseNightshirt said on 11th September 2010, 22:19
Too long, hence why Hamilton is out front.
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn) said on 11th September 2010, 14:51
Great result – the only thing better than a Ferrari pole at Monza is a Ferrari win at Monza. I’ll have to wait till tomorrow for that though, hehe.
Man of the session for me though is without a doubt Webber. With the limited running he had in practise, to not only out qualify Vettel but Lewis as well is a great result for him. If he can keep his head like this for the remainder of the season he has to be the strongest bet for the title.
bosyber said on 11th September 2010, 14:59
Are you Eddie Jordan? He said exactly the same :-p
Calum said on 11th September 2010, 14:57
I have a feeling hamilton might pull off a senna tommorow…lets say 4 car’s within 2 laps? :)
Sound_Of_Madness (@sound_of_madness) said on 11th September 2010, 15:06
I hope you mean Ayrton ;)
Joey-Poey said on 11th September 2010, 14:57
that was… unexpected o_o
SPIDERman said on 11th September 2010, 15:10
it is highly possible that two of the top six cars will take each other out by the first corner.
safety car situation comes in and barichelo and kubika will come into play…
gwenouille said on 11th September 2010, 15:10
The pole is on the left side of the track isn’t it ?
Any information about that dity/clean side of grid matter ?
I will miss the direct ! I hope I will be able to see the race later !
Damon said on 11th September 2010, 15:12
Mclaren get on my nerves with the ” let’s be different ” strategy yet again. It’s backfired big time and ruined hamiltons title hopes barring problems for redbull
charlieboy said on 11th September 2010, 15:28
Why all the doom and gloom am I the only one looking forward to a exciting race tomorrow?
My prediction is Webber wont finish
Vettel has a boring afternoon but no crashes for the crash kid
Button will slide backwards over the first few laps.
Massa and Alonso to scrap it out and another argument about team orders.
Hamilton will get a podium and if lucky with the Ferrari fallout will get a win.
Any bets? :P
SPIDERman said on 11th September 2010, 15:34
am seeing A BUTTON win and A FERARI TWO AND THREE.
I BET HAMILTON WILL FINISH 5TH ..that is if he wont crash out chasing the front runners.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 11th September 2010, 15:37
Enough with the Caps Lock, thank you.
LosD said on 11th September 2010, 18:42
Why would Button slide backwards? Besides DNF, he has done as good as or improved on raceday… And mostly the latter.
SPIDERman said on 11th September 2010, 15:30
EXACTLY…Hamilton has now been put into a situation whereby he will be chasing BUTTON again like last year…and we all know how that ended.
it will be interesting to see the dash for the first corner and who will be surviving after the fisrt lap
Ady said on 11th September 2010, 16:39
Hang on one second. Hamilton took the safe strategy, and Button the risky obscure strategy. And this has cost Hamilton places??
It just so happens that this risk has paid off…. So far. Let’s wait for the race tomorrow and see.
BBT said on 11th September 2010, 15:35
“I am obviously not very happy with our qualifying today but my position is probably what my car was giving me,” said Schumacher.
Yawn – yawn,
Rosberg seemed to be doing OK.
BBT said on 11th September 2010, 15:37
oh and if Hamilton doesn’t loose a front wing in the 1st corner he will be in the top three IMO.
Would love to see Massa leading the end of lap 1, that would be so funny.
Stevo said on 11th September 2010, 17:02
Can’t stand Ferrari, or Felipe ordinarily, but I was really hoping Felipe would repeat “Chu juan” and get pole. I still hope he can jump up through from the second row tomorrow to win it. Ignore the orders.
Surprised by Hamilton’s fifth, but unfortunately I don’t think he’ll have too many problems slipping past Mark tomorrow with the extra revs his car has, and his ability to break deeper. Web would be better off watching for Mr Impetuous behind him.
Keamo said on 11th September 2010, 17:29
I am also a bit dissappointed by Lewis’ qualifying. He should have gotten pole, P2 at least. Monza is the track he should score maximum points before we move to RBR territory. The race is tomorrow, he better pull something out of the bag then
troutcor said on 11th September 2010, 20:12
Nobody noticing a good qualifying result by Williams? Not sure they should have stopped work on the 2010 car. If they don’t make some noise now, they may not have the sponsors to do anything with that early jump on 2011. Time for them to take a step forward, or step out altogether. There’s no honor in being a sentimental favorite of the past (or of the passed).
troutcor said on 11th September 2010, 20:16
Webber, Hamilton and Vettel 4, 5 and 6? That should be interesting at the start.
anthony said on 11th September 2010, 22:12
i wonder will button be moving over for lewis lol
forza ferrari xxxx
MouseNightshirt said on 11th September 2010, 22:23
“Mark.”
“Yes Helmut?”
“We need you to clip off Hamilton’s front wing”
“What?! Why?”
“So that he pits and Seb can get past him”
“You gotta be kidding mate! That could puncture my tyres and would be illegal!”
“Do it, team orders. Plus the fine is coming out of your salary, Seb wants a new jacuzzi, you know the one with the *extra* bubbles! Man it’ll be exciting… anyway, do it.”