Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, right, with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after the Sprint Race qualifying session at Monza. AP
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, right, with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after the Sprint Race qualifying session at Monza. AP
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, right, with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after the Sprint Race qualifying session at Monza. AP
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, right, with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after the Sprint Race qualifying session at Monza. AP

Italian GP: Hamilton predicts 'easy win' for Red Bull after Verstappen takes pole


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Max Verstappen will start the Italian Grand Prix in pole position despite finishing second in Saturday's qualifying sprint at Monza.

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas won the 18-lap race ahead of Verstappen but the Finn was already condemned to start Sunday's race at the back of the grid after being penalised for taking on power unit components in qualifying on Friday.

Red Bull's Verstappen also claimed two championship points to extend his lead on Lewis Hamilton to five after the reigning champion finished fifth, some 20 seconds off the pace.

"That went a little bit better than expected," said Verstappen. "Up to second, scored some points, up to pole tomorrow. It's going to be an interesting battle tomorrow."

Hamilton had started the sprint in second behind teammate Bottas but was overtaken by Verstappen and dropped back in the field after a dreadful start which will make his latest bid for a 100th victory that much harder.

Alongside Verstappen on the front row will be McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo, who also breezed past Hamilton in the opening moments and held on to third position to claim second in the grid.

Ricciardo promised "full attack" against Verstappen on Sunday even though he finished over 12 seconds behind the Dutchman and he will have his teammate Lando Norris backing him up in the second row after he finished fourth.

Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton has been stuck on 99 wins since victory at the British GP in July, but after strong displays in both practices and qualifying looked in good shape to make his century.

However he will have his work cut out for him from the second row after Verstappen and Ricciardo came up either side of him in a chaotic start.

French AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly would also have stolen a place on the Briton had he not then slid off the track at the first bend after making contact with Ricciardo.

"We've got to try and figure out how to get by the McLarens tomorrow and try and limit the damage," said a disappointed Hamilton. "Now they (Red Bull) are on pole so it should be an easy race win."

Just behind Hamilton in the third row will be Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who won at Monza in 2019 and is hoping for the home support to help push the Scuderia to another good result.

His teammate Carlos Sainz will be alongside him after finishing seventh having crashed out of practice earlier on Saturday and then having to sweat on his car being repaired in time for the sprint.

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League 
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals

2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25  

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2am – Prelims

4am-7am – Main card

7:30am-9am – press cons

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2pm: Al Sahel Contracting Company – Maiden (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: AF Mutakafel, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: El Baareq, Antonio Fresu, Rashed Bouresly

3pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Alkaraama, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

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4.30pm: Hive – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

5pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – (TB) Handicap Dh64,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

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Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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Updated: September 11, 2021, 7:31 PM