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Qualifying report

Hamilton secures pole position for the Italian Grand Prix

Rosberg was unable to match his teammate in Q3 at Monza.

Polesitter Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1

Polesitter Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1

XPB Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W05
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W05
Jules Bianchi, Marussia F1 Team MR03
Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB10
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari F14-T
Jean-Eric Vergne, Scuderia Toro Rosso
Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham CT05
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
Pastor Maldonado, Lotus F1 E21
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1

Lewis Hamilton has snagged his fifth pole of the 2014 season, doing so in Monza today. He's won the last three races that he started from point. This also marks the 36th pole of his Formula One career. Hamilton also topped the timesheets today for the first time in the last eight races this season.  

Rosberg had to settle for second best as Q3 came to a close and he did not manage to catch Hamilton ahead of him to pinch the top spot.  Rosberg’s second place at the end of qualifying does mean that the pair will lock out the front row of the grid for the race start.

Row two and three

Williams’ driver, Valtteri Bottas was the Mercedes duo’s closest rival on the track as Q3 and the all-important top 10 shootout was coming to an end.  The Finnish driver maintained his good performance once again today as he has done so in recent race weekends.  Bottas ended qualifying behind Rosberg to complete the top three driver line up ahead of the race tomorrow.

He will share the second row on the grid with his teammate Felipe Massa. Mercedes locked out the first row, Williams the second row, and McLaren the third row with Magnussen leading his elder teammate.

Fan favorite clocks in seventh

Italian GP fan favorite Fernando Alonso timed in seventh while Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen failed to advance to Q3. In a rare occurrence, Sebastian Vettel finished ahead of Daniel Ricciardo. The duo will start eighth and ninth. The final spot inside the top ten was held by Force India's Sergio Perez.

Other notes

Beyond the top 10, the rest of the drivers in the field were left to battle over 11th to 22nd place in Q1 and Q2.  The majority of the drivers in the midfield and towards the back of the grid look set to benefit by one place though, as a result of Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat facing a 10 place grid penalty for an engine change.  Kvyat will begin the race from 21st place when his penalty takes effect.  

Raikkonen will be the first to move closer to the top 10 positions, as he will start from Kvyat’s original qualifying position of 11th place and the other drivers in the field will follow behind Raikkonen in the line-up.

Another change in the line-up on the grid for tomorrow is driver related, as Caterham’s Kamui Kobayashi will return to his driving seat, having been replaced in a one race deal by Andre Lotterer for the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

Following today’s qualifying session; Hamilton has maintained his previous track record at Monza in terms of securing pole positions.  It remains to be seen how the action will unfold on the track when the race gets underway.

Many anticipate another epic Rosberg/Hamilton duel

Particular attention will fall on Rosberg and Hamilton at the front row of the grid, since their coming together last time out at the Belgian Grand Prix.  It is certain that the pair will have their sights set on success, but the only driver who has spoilt the number of race wins between them so far this season is Ricciardo, who has the opportunity to secure his third consecutive race victory tomorrow.

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