RACE DEBRIEF

    Once again, the Sprint race proved influential as plenty of positions changed hands on Saturday in Monza. Valtteri Bottas led from P1 for a lights to flag win, but since he will pick up a grid penalty, pole will go to Max Verstappen. The Dutchman was understandably jubilant and is well placed for a good race, but who else did well for themselves in the new format? Here are some of the best facts and stats from the Sprint…

    • Valtteri Bottas will be the second driver to be quickest in qualifying at Monza but not start on pole – the other being Kimi Raikkonen in 2005.

    • Max Verstappen has never previously started in the top four at Monza.

    • This will be Red Bull’s first Monza pole since 2013 when Sebastian Vettel managed to grab P1.

    • This will be Honda’s first Monza pole since 1991, scored with Ayrton Senna.

    READ MORE: Verstappen set for pole position for Italian Grand Prix as penalty-hit Bottas wins Monza Sprint

    MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 11: Valterri Bottas of Mercedes and Finland wins the Sprint race ahead of
    P1 for Bottas in qualifying, victory in the Sprint but no pole for the Finn in Monza

    • Daniel Ricciardo will have his first front row start since Mexico 2018, and the tenth of his career.

    • Lando Norris will start from third, making this the best team qualifying for McLaren since Lewis Hamilton left the team. Their previous best was a 1 – 2 scored by Hamilton and Jenson Button in Brazil, 2012.

    • McLaren’s only previous front row start since 2021 was Norris at Austria this season.

    HIGHLIGHTS: Missed the F1 Sprint at Monza? Catch all the action right here

    • Lewis Hamilton’s fourth is the first time he’s been outside the top three at Monza in the hybrid era.

    • Hamilton previously started fourth in Austria this season, and finished in the same position.

    (L to R): Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren and  team mate Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren.

Formula One
    The last time McLaren had two cars this far up the grid, they had a very different driver line up

    • Charles Leclerc’s fifth is the same starting slot as Zandvoort, as is Carlos Sainz’s sixth on the grid.

    • Antonio Giovinazzi backed up his Q3 appearance yesterday with a strong drive to seventh – also the same starting slot as he had last time out.

    • Lance Stroll improved to ninth, and has started in the top 10 in all five of his visits to Monza.

    WATCH: From Vettel's stunning debut win to Leclerc delivering for Ferrari – 5 feelgood Monza moments

    • Fernando Alonso will start P10, having moved up three places compared to his qualifying performance, one less than he managed to gain at the first Sprint in Silverstone.

    • Pierre Gasly will start from the back, having not been lower than 12th all season.