Italian GP: Charles Leclerc takes Monza pole for Ferrari as grid penalties promote George Russell to front row

Charles Leclerc edged out Max Verstappen to top qualifying at Monza; Verstappen is one of nine drivers taking a grid penalty; George Russell to start second despite qualifying sixth; watch Italian GP live on Sky Sports F1 at 2pm on Sunday, with build-up from 1pm

Charles Leclerc outpaced Max Verstappen to claim pole for Ferrari at the Italian team’s home Grand Prix in Monza.

Grid penalties for world championship leader Verstappen and Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz meant the Monegasque was all but assured of starting on pole, but he delivered the fastest time in qualifying to the delight of the Tifosi.

Verstappen will receive a five-place grid penalty, but it remains unclear where that will leave him on Sunday’s grid, with penalties for other drivers who qualified behind him also needing to be implemented.

The Dutchman’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez was fourth on the timesheet but is facing a 10-place grid penalty, while Lewis Hamilton was fifth but will be relegated to the rear of the grid, along with Sainz, after taking a full complement of new engine parts.

That means Leclerc will be joined on the front row by Mercedes’ George Russell, who was sixth in qualifying.

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Sky F1’s Karun Chandhok analyses the qualifying laps of Leclerc and Max Verstappen ahead of the Italian GP

Lando Norris is promoted up to third, while his McLaren team-mate Daniel Ricciardo is also set for a lofty starting position.

Nyck de Vries impressed on his F1 qualifying debut as he deputised in a Williams for Alex Albon, who was ruled out of the weekend earlier on Saturday having fallen ill with appendicitis.

The Mercedes reserve driver, who is hoping to secure a permanent seat on the grid next season, outperformed team-mate Nicholas Latifi to advance to Q2, and looked in with an outside chance of making Q3

The sport continued to pay its respects to Queen Elizabeth II, with several cars carrying visual tributes. A minute’s silence was observed by all teams in the pit lane ahead of first practice on Friday, and further tributes are expected before Sunday’s race.

The paddock is awaiting a provisional grid from the FIA, but Sky Sports F1’s David Croft has predicted how he expects it to look once all the penalties have been applied.

David Croft’s provisional Italian GP starting grid:

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Sky Sports F1’s David Croft explains how drivers’ grid penalties could affect the final grid for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix

1) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2) George Russell (Mercedes)
3) Lando Norris (McLaren)
4) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)*
5) Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
6) Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri)
7) Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
8) Nyck de Vries (Williams)
9) Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
10) Sergio Perez (Red Bull)*
11) Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
12) Esteban Ocon (Alpine)*
13) Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
14) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
15) Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)*
16) Kevin Magnussen (Haas)*
17) Mick Schumacher (Haas)*
18) Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)*
19) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)*
20) Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)*

* Grid penalty applied

More to follow…