Italian Grand Prix: Qualification – all the news of Formula 1 2020

Sunny. Dry. Air + 28C, track + 45C

The main topic of conversation at Monza was the ban on the use of the power plant’s rating mode of operation, the so-called “party mode” – the term was proposed by Lewis Hamilton a couple of years ago. The FIA ​​formally explained the regulation change during the season because of the complexity of its control of the parameters of the power plant, but it was not particularly hidden that the decision was pressured by Ferrari and Red Bull.

Technical directive TD / 037-20 prohibited changing the engine configuration between qualifying and the race, so each manufacturer and each team made their own decisions based on the remaining life of the engine, its reliability, the characteristics of the engine. clue and the importance of the qualification result. All were convinced that the ban, which first appeared at Monza, would affect the results.

There was one more factor. In Monza qualifying, it is important to be at the optimal distance behind the opponent’s car to get into the airbag and gain speed. Last year, in the final of qualifying, the drivers slowed down at the last corner; no one wanted to start the fastest lap first, as a result the session ended before they crossed the start line.

To avoid this, the FIA ​​has set a maximum lap time of 1: 43.0 between the white lines of the safety car. If the driver drove slower, he received an automatic penalty.

When all wheels left the track on laps 5 and 11, the fastest lap was automatically canceled, which happened more than once in practice. Valtteri Bottas was in the lead on Friday morning, Lewis Hamilton led the protocol in the afternoon and Bottas was back in the best time on Saturday morning.

The tire manufacturers brought to Monza the three “intermediate” trains, in the roles of hard, medium and soft tires, C2, C3 and C4 were used.

Renault has restored Daniel Riccardo’s car after a breakdown in morning training by replacing the fuel pump.

In the first session, everyone used Soft, except the Mercedes drivers: Hamilton and Bottas rode Medium.

Leclerc, Magnussen, Gasley, Stroll and Elbon’s fastest lap was canceled for running off the track at Turn 11.

On the first attempt, Hamilton led the protocol, having driven a circle in 1: 19.539, on the second attempt he added – 1: 19.514, finishing first.

On the second attempt, the drivers slowed down, creating heavy traffic before the start of a fast lap, interfered with many. There were no incidents, but Raikkonen, Okon and Latifi were summoned to the stewards for an explanation.

Grosjean, Vettel, Giovinazzi, Russell and Latifi withdrew from the fight.

In the second session, everyone went to Soft. Hamilton already in the first attempt updated the absolute track record – 1: 19.092, three tenths ahead of his partner. The fight for positions behind them was very close.

For the second attempt, no one wanted to go first, then they all went in a group, gradually stretching out along the track, trying to secure an interval of 4-5 seconds before the start of a fast lap.

Riccardo made a mistake when braking, ruining a fast lap. In the last seconds yellow flags appeared and many had to take their foot off the accelerator.

Bottas led the protocol with a lap of 1: 18.952, one tenth and a half ahead of Hamilton. The rest lost more than seven tenths. Retired from the fight: Kvyat, Okon, Leclair, Raikkonen and Magnussen.

In the final, everyone went to Soft. Hamilton led the protocol with a lap of 1: 19.068 and five hundredths ahead of Bottas.

Elbon’s time was canceled due to running off the track at Turn 11.

On the second attempt, Hamilton completed the lap in 1: 18.887 – this is now a new record for the Italian circuit. Bottas lost seven hundredths, the rest more than eight tenths.

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Lewis Hamilton won qualifying at Monza, taking sixth pole of the season and 94 of his career.

Mercedes drivers will occupy the entire front row of the starting field for the sixth time this season. Sainz and Pérez start from the second, Verstappen and Norris from the third.

For the first time since 1984, there were no Ferrari drivers in the top ten at Monza, but then Alboreto started 11th and finished second. That result is hardly possible tomorrow.

Qualification results