'Tomorrow I’m going to give it everything' – Carlos Sainz takes pole for Italian Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen

Updated 02/09/2023 at 18:06 GMT

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will start the Italian Grand Prix on pole after pipping Red Bull's Max Verstappen by just 0.013 seconds. His Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc settled for third – 0.067secs behind the winner. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton could only manage eighth after a difficult qualifying campaign. "Tomorrow I’m going to give it everything to get P1," said a determined Sainz.

'The best feeling' - Sainz snatches pole from Verstappen and Leclerc at Monza

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza ahead of Max Verstappen.

Sainz pipped Red Bull’s Verstappen by just 0.013 seconds to send the Italian fans home happy, as Charles Leclerc settled for third – 0.067secs behind his winning team-mate.

“It’s been such an intense qualifying, especially Q3, you know all three went for it,” Sainz said.

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“We were very, very on the limit and on that last lap, I know I had some lap time and I really pushed hard.

“Since the finish line, watching the crowd, getting out of the car and seeing this I haven’t stopped getting goosebumps, it’s incredible. Everywhere we go it’s just noise, support and encouragement and it’s the best feeling you can get as a driver and as an athlete."

Mercedes’ George Russell took fourth place ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez to complete the top five.

Alex Albon, of Williams, claimed sixth place, but Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) could only manage eighth after a difficult qualifying campaign.

McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were seventh and ninth respectively, with Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin completing the top 10.

There was an impressive showing by AlphaTauri’s Liam Lawson – Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement as the Australian recovers from a broken hand – as he secured a 12th-place finishing on his first full weekend in F1, only 0.164secs behind his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

In Sunday’s GP, Sainz made his intentions clear: get on the podium.

He said: "That is the No. 1 target. Tomorrow I’m going to give it everything to get P1, to get a good start and see if we can battle Max. In the long run he’s usually quicker but I'm going to give it my all.”

Top 10

1. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. George Russell (Mercedes)
5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
6. Alex Albon (Williams)
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
8. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
9. Lando Norris (McLaren)
10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

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