03 September 2023 , 09:09
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Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz only took pole position at the Italian Grand Prix because Max Verstappen was deliberately taking it easy, according to Red Bull chief Helmut Marko.
Sainz pipped Verstappen in qualifying by 0.013 seconds to give the home fans hope of a Ferrari win on Sunday, with Charles Leclerc in third. The Spaniard was quickest in Friday practice and in Saturday's final session and came good to break Verstappen’s stranglehold on pole.
The Ferrari driver avoided a penalty for ignoring the race director's instruction to meet a minimum lap time when on a slow lap to avoid congestion. He gave Ferrari a timely boost at Monza, but Red Bull’s advisor Marko says their success only came due to their own tactics.
"We already knew that Ferrari would be strong and we never really focused on pole position,” he told ORF. "Looking at how we went about it with the set-up, for the race it is a lot more important [than for qualifying].
"With these positions, we have a good tactical and strategic advantage."
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Verstappen said: "We made some good improvements compared to yesterday and in every session it was very tight. I am happy to be second today. Normally we have a quick race car and I will try to win the race, but let's first enjoy today."
Sainz was delighted to give the Italian fans something to shout about with his rapid lap. "Honestly, it has been such an intense qualifying, especially Q3,” he said. “We all three went for it. We were very on the limit and on the last lap I knew I had some lap time to come in Ascari and Parabolica and I went for it and it went well.
Carlos Sainz is on pole position, ahead of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc (Beata Zawrzel/Getty Images)"Since I crossed the finish line, the whole in-lap, I haven't finished the goosebumps. Everywhere we go, the noise from the support of the fans has been incredible. It is the best feeling you can have as an athlete.
"My birthday yesterday gave me something extra and today I put in one of my best laps to get pole. Tomorrow I will give out everything to hold on to that P1 and a good start and first stint, see if we can battle Max. Normally he is quicker but I am going to give it a go."
Mercedes’ George Russell beat Red Bull's Sergio Perez to take fourth place, while Alex Albon took sixth for Williams. Lewis Hamilton could manage only eighth in between the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin completing the top 10.