LEWIS HAMILTON set the fastest lap in Formula One’s 70-year history – proving he doesn’t need a party mode to celebrate.
The Brit was prevented here at Monza from using the engine setting – dubbed ‘party mode’ by his race engineer, Pete Bonnington – that cranks it up to full power for qualifying.
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap in F1 history with a stunning 164.267mph circuit at MonzaCredit: EPA
The British driver poses with a tyre after securing a seventh pole at the Italian GPCredit: Reuters
New rules brought in by the sport’s governing body, the FIA, to try and stop his Mercedes team’s domination backfired as he again obliterated the rest of the field.
Hamilton did so at Monza – known as the Temple of Speed – breaking the track record TWICE and setting the fastest ever lap, with an average speed of 164.3mph.
Hamilton’s 94th pole position of his F1 career means he will start in P1 for Sunday’s Italian GP.
He said: “We said last week before they brought in the rule to slow us down it would not make any difference.
“Because we already have a great car and we will be better in other areas, it was just an incredible performance this weekend. This is the best we have ever been here, we really put the car in a sweet spot.
This is the best we have ever been here, we really put the car in a sweet spot.
Lewis Hamilton
“In the years I have come here and I have had times with less downforce and grip but today, with the grip we had, the speeds going through were pretty awesome.”
As for stopping Merc’s qualifying advantage, that backfired for the FIA, as McLaren’s Carlos Sainz will line up in third place on the grid.
But the Spaniard was a WHOPPING 0.808 seconds behind Hamilton’s best time that set a new track record of 1:18.887.
While Mercedes were cruising, there was even more woe for Ferrari as the statistics for their shocking form continue.
Charles Leclerc qualified in 13th while four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel, will be back in 17th on the grid, pending any penalties.
Hamilton celebrates with his Mercedes team after nailing his perfect lapCredit: AP:Associated Press
Sebastian Vettel finished 17th as Ferrari suffered a nightmare qualifying session at their home GPCredit: AFP
Incredibly, it is the first time in 36 years that Ferrari won’t have a car starting inside the top 10 at Monza.
And Vettel, who is leaving the team at the end of the season, has the unwelcome statistic of being the first Ferrari drivers to start outside the top 15 at Monza since Giancarlo Baghetti started in 16th in 1966.
Leclerc said: “It hurts even more when it’s at home, but it’s a reality at the moment for us unfortunately.
“We know Spa and here are probably the two worst tracks for us, with another one probably a bit later like this. It’s like this.
“It’s tough because once you do a good lap and you do P13 it doesn’t feel good. But, for now, it’s like this and I need to extract the maximum out of the car in the situation we are in and that’s what In tried to do.”
Vettel was the first to fall, knocked out of Q1 after he came unstuck in traffic as he squabbled for position through the Parabolica in order to maximise the tow along the pit straight.
Vettel said: “What a mess”, after he failed to improve on his time.
Leclerc made it through to Q2, but failed to trouble the top ten, eliminated in 13th.
He added: “The best I can do, the best I can do.”
In 70 editions of Ferrari’s home race, when both cars have gone to the line, the Italian team have never had both drivers finish outside the top ten – but that streak would appear to be in grave danger.
Lewis Hamilton claims F1 chiefs are trying to stop him winning a seventh world title by slowing Mercedes down
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
