McLaren in front! Again. This is the ultimate proof: This Formula 1 car is now the benchmark on every type of track. A week ago, Lando Norris took pole position in Zandvoort on an angular, comparatively “slow” track. On Saturday, the Englishman repeated the feat in the speed temple of Monza, where the cars circle with the wings as flat as possible to minimize air resistance to accomplish. Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri came second ahead of George Russell in the Mercedes and the Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Lewis Hamilton qualified in sixth place in the second Mercedes. World champion Max Verstappen only managed seventh place ahead of Sergio Pérez in the second Red Bull. He was 0.7 seconds behind. One world. But apparently no reason to mope. “It’s very close,” Piastri told the TV channel Sky, “it will be very exciting in the race. You can also have success from further back here in Monza.” Hülkenberg in tenth place. Franco Colapinto left neither a bad nor a good impression in his first qualifying session in Formula 1. The Argentinian, whom the Williams racing team preferred over Mick Schumacher for the last one nine Grand Prix of the season, came 18th due to a drift with the rear axle coming into contact with the gravel bed, needed around 0.5 seconds longer in the first round than his established teammate Alexander Albon (9th). Colapinto replaced him, who was far too slow and therefore at the beginning of the week American Logan Sargeant, who was banned from the cockpit. Once again we could rely on Nico Hülkenberg, the only German in the field. In the Haas it was enough to finish tenth. The starting position is not that important in Monza. The cars have to cover 380 meters to the first chicane. Enough run-up to pass in the slipstream or to take a favorable position for a promising attack in the next passage before the second chicane. “It won’t be an easy race.” The round trip in the Royal Park offers plenty of overtaking opportunities thanks to the long straight. Nobody would give away a pole position because of that. But some pilots, even if they landed on the second or even third row of the grid, like the Ferrari crew, are still somewhat confident about the departure on Sunday (3 p.m. in the F.A.Z. live ticker for Formula 1, on RTL and Sky). This time There seem to be plenty of chances to win. “It won’t be an easy race, there are some unknowns, tire wear,” said Norris after his fifth pole position: “But I’m looking forward to it.” Because the Grand Prix simulations on Friday and also on Saturday morning in the third training session recognize an increase in performance: despite a one-lap demonstration, McLaren will most likely not pull away like it did last Sunday, when winner Lando Norris crossed the finish line a good 20 seconds ahead of Verstappen in Zandvoort. A declassification. The world champion also complained about problems turning in at Monza. But there was initially no discernible class difference. “We don’t understand it yet,” said Red Bull’s sports director Helmut Marko, “the performance was there in the second round, but suddenly not anymore in the third round. We have to analyze this now. But nothing is lost yet. You can overtake here.” “We’ve been too slow all weekend,” said Verstappen and complained: “I had a lot of understeer, the tires weren’t working, nothing was working.” His RB 20 seems vulnerable on the straights. It is not one of the fastest cars on the high-speed track with speeds of up to 350. Antonelli replaces Hamilton. The Silver Arrows are quicker. Thanks to a new underbody, Mercedes seems to be back on track, just as it was before the summer break. In the expected heat (around 50 degrees Celsius track temperature on the new asphalt), the Silver Arrow is considered, according to Friday’s data, to be the best car in terms of tire management, slightly ahead of Red Bull and more clearly ahead of McLaren and Ferrari. “I also expect one “Close race,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. A coup in Ferrari’s homeland for Formula 1’s 74th appearance since the world championship was contested in the Royal Park (1950)? On Saturday morning, the Austrian, in the heart of Italian motorsport, stole the show with a small presentation: He now officially promoted Andrea Kimi Antonelli from Formula 2 driver to second Mercedes regular driver next season. One Italian. The first in years who, mama mia, is not allowed to develop his talent in a Ferrari, but in a top team. If you believe Wolff and his engineers, then there is a special talent in the young man, who has been allowed to sit behind the wheel on public roads under the eye of the law since this week. One that will in any case be put in the cockpit of Lewis Hamilton, the outgoing one Record world champion. The Englishman discovered a change in mood in Monza these days. Shortly after his last victory so far at the Italian Grand Prix, which was his fifth in Monza in 2018, quite a few Ferrari fans whistled at him during the award ceremony. “He let it fly.” Next year he will be in red as the most successful driver of the Formula 1 history (104 victories) returns as the Scuderia’s new hope. And so the Italians owe the British a double joy. Although it was dampened a bit on Friday when Antonelli temporarily lost the form and composure of the W15 from Mercedes when it hit the track barrier behind the Parabolica curve. More on the topic In the first training session, the offspring of Mercedes driver development shot along at 330 km / h a too late braking maneuver over the finish line. After a dark look, Wolff took it sportily: “He let it fly.” At a time and place where the experienced don’t risk everything right away. “It’s better,” Antonelli’s boss added, “when you have to slow someone down. It’s very difficult to go faster.” That also applies to Red Bull at the moment.
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