2018 Italian Grand Prix grid

2018 Italian Grand Prix

1st September 2018, 15:04 | Written by Keith Collantine

Kimi Raikkonen leads the provisional grid for the 2018 Italian Grand Prix.

Row 1	1. Kimi Raikkonen 1’19.119 Ferrari
		2. Sebastian Vettel 1’19.280 Ferrari
Row 2	3. Lewis Hamilton 1’19.294 Mercedes
		4. Valtteri Bottas 1’19.656 Mercedes
Row 3	5. Max Verstappen 1’20.615 Red Bull
		6. Romain Grosjean 1’20.936 Haas
Row 4	7. Carlos Sainz Jnr 1’21.041 Renault
		8. Esteban Ocon 1’21.099 Force India
Row 5	9. Pierre Gasly 1’21.350 Toro Rosso
		10. Lance Stroll 1’21.627 Williams
Row 6	11. Kevin Magnussen 1’21.669 Haas
		12. Sergey Sirotkin 1’21.732 Williams
Row 7	13. Fernando Alonso 1’22.568 McLaren
		14. Sergio Perez 1’21.888 Force India
Row 8	15. Charles Leclerc 1’21.889 Sauber
		16. Brendon Hartley 1’21.934 Toro Rosso
Row 9	17. Stoffel Vandoorne 1’22.085 McLaren
		18. Marcus Ericsson* 1’22.048 Sauber
Row 10	19. Daniel Ricciardo** No time Red Bull
		20. Nico Hulkenberg** No time Renault

*10-place grid penalty due to engine change
**Send to the back of the grid for power unit change

2018 Italian Grand Prix

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85 comments on “2018 Italian Grand Prix grid”

HUHHII (@huhhii)
1st September 2018, 15:05

:)
It’ll all go wrong tomorrow, but let’s enjoy know. I’ll take my champagne today already
1. Tom
  1st September 2018, 15:09
  
  Congrats , amazing from Kimi. Such a shame he won’t be given a fair shot tomorrow.
  1. MG1982 (@mg1982)
    1st September 2018, 15:11
    
    Such a shame he won’t be given a fair shot tomorrow.
    
    It only proves you live in your own world.
    1. Tom
      1st September 2018, 15:17
      
      He’s already been forced out of the way in Germany. If you think he has a chance to beat Vettel tomorrow you’re naive. I’m still waiting for those 40 examples too.
      1. javier javier (@j3d89)
        1st September 2018, 15:20
        
        he was older, had a different tire strategy and wasnt fast like vettel, he was faster than lewis… how on earth is that difficult to understand
      2. MG1982 (@mg1982)
        1st September 2018, 15:36
        
        I was right…. Forced out of the way in Germany?!?! That’s your problem. What actually happened in the race is that RAI lost a place to VER… again… and VET lead the race and managed to create a distance to RAI in the 1st stint equivalent to a pit-stop. So, given that, they’re on different strategies from that moment on, so RAI should have let VET pass him and do not destroy his tyres and race. VET played this team game in France by letting RAI to pass him immediately after RAI pitted. Every time RAI has to do the same thing…. he’s a no.2. Why didn’t you blame Ferrari for treating VET as a no.2 in France?!?
        
        Exactly, I doubt he has many chances to beat VET tomorrow, but not because of Ferrari’s tactics, but because RAI doesn’t have the pace all race long. Actually, I have big doubts he will manage to beat HAM too. Deep inside I hope RAI has the pace to win, I think Ferrari won’t interfere if he proves it.
      3. Tom
        1st September 2018, 15:42
        
        So why didn’t Vettel just overtake if Kimi was so slow and Vettel was so fast ? Its because Kimi had the pace to keep Vettel behind but was TOLD to move over. If that was a rival car it would be different so don’t try to change the fact Kimi was forced out of the way.
    2. koddamn (@gufdamm)
      1st September 2018, 15:18
      
      What do you believe will happen? I believe they will take each other out personally.
    3. Todfod (@todfod)
      1st September 2018, 15:18
      
      Agree. Ferrari always support kimi. They will never take away a win from him and hand it to Sebastian.
      1. Kurt Debacquer
        1st September 2018, 16:36
        
        Vettel didn’t let Kimi past in France he just overtook him because of his old tyres xD
    4. Carlos andres medrano
      1st September 2018, 15:39
      
      If you think Kimi has a chance to win tomorrow you probably started watching f1 this year
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
1st September 2018, 15:05

Ferrari tactics working well, for the wrong driver… BUT YEAH KIMI!!!
Mashiat (@mashiat)
1st September 2018, 15:05

I will never understand why they gave Raikkonen the tow instead of Vettel. Makes no sense whatsoever.
1. Blackbox (@blackbox)
  1st September 2018, 15:08
  
  Vettel got tow from Hamilton and Hamilton from Bottas. No difference there.
  1. Mashiat (@mashiat)
    1st September 2018, 15:16
    
    @blackbox Look at the gaps between Hamilton and Vettel, and Vettel and Raikkonen. Raikkonen got a very good tow off Vettel, while Vettel barely got any tow from Hamilton, if at all.
    1. billy
      1st September 2018, 15:24
      
      Seb should have sticked to lewis closer then. Come on HAM take vet out! KIMI FTW!!!
    2. Blackbox (@blackbox)
      1st September 2018, 15:49
      
      All three of them had similar gaps to the guy in front of them at the beginning of the lap. Vettel’s admitted that his lap was not the best. Margins were small though.
      1. Bob
        1st September 2018, 18:52
        
        They all set times in the range of two tenth of a second (except Bottas). So the gaps didn’t vary that much throughout the lap. Hamilton was around 2 seconds behind Bottas, Vettel then around 4 seconds behind him and Kimi again around 2 seconds behind Vettel.
Tom
1st September 2018, 15:08

What a poor comment from Vettel ! Pathetic. Of course they’ll let Vettel win tomorrow after he cries tonight.
1. javier javier (@j3d89)
  1st September 2018, 15:10
  
  what poor comment? i did a poor lap, raikonen did better, i wasnt happy with my lap
  1. Tom
    1st September 2018, 15:15
    
    “yeesssss” then after being told he’s p2 saying “we will talk later”
    1. javier javier (@j3d89)
      1st September 2018, 15:23
      
      lol such is the hate that “we’ll talk later” is a poor comment? HAHA, im wondering what you think about “they have a trick”, “interesting tactics” and “i wanted to wipe that smile off your face” 😌
      1. Tom
        1st September 2018, 15:28
        
        Who said “they have a trick” ?
        
        It was the poor form to go from celebration to totally shut down on the team. “we will talk later” was clearly showing he’s unhappy and wants Ferrari to fix it for tomorrow. 100% If both Ferraris finish tomorrow Vettel will be ahead, even though Kimi has the pace to win.
      2. Ed
        1st September 2018, 19:46
        
        These Vettel fans can’t keep Hamilton out of a topic even if their life is on the line. Impressive.
        And also very poor.
      3. Michael Brown (@)
        1st September 2018, 21:22
        
        It only proves that Hamilton and Vettel fans are a cancer upon the F1 community.
        Watch what happens when Hamilton says anything that could be interpreted as complaining.
Panagiotis Papatheodorou (@panagiotism-papatheodorou)
1st September 2018, 15:08

Have to say it: Bottas doesn’t have any pace this weekend.
1. Tom
  1st September 2018, 15:11
  
  Starting his second half slump again ? He sometimes looks really good but at some tacks he’s just nowhere.
2. Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
  1st September 2018, 18:42
  
  What I think some people are missing is that Bottas was as fast as the other top 3 in the middle sector. So I think he just struggled to put a strong lap togeather. His pace must have been good to go that quick in that sector. Bottas’s final lap actually looked decent. I agree the rest were not good and even his final attempt wasn’t as good as he usually is. But Hamilton is clearly very good here. Remember him beating Rosberg by half a second one year. I think it is more Hamilton being so good here than Bottas having a slump like last year. Bottas was only 3.5s behind Hamilton. If that is being compared to his average off form qualifying sessions near the end of last year, it is nowhere close. I think myself that Bottas isn’t looking great here, but I wouldn’t say he had no pace.
Mark Saunders (@mcs1)
1st September 2018, 15:08

Crashttel such a cry baby … WAH WAH WAH
1. Tom
  1st September 2018, 15:13
  
  Kimi made his wife and Vettel cry with that lap.
  1. Nimba (@nimba)
    1st September 2018, 15:37
    
    +1 Ahha.. Nice One
2. Adrian Hancox (@ahxshades)
  1st September 2018, 15:28
  
  @mcs1 – you and he seem to have that in common at least.
  1. Mark Saunders (@mcs1)
    1st September 2018, 15:29
    
    Ahh … a Crashttell supporter .. Wah Wah Wah
    1. Frederick Mann (@myst)
      1st September 2018, 18:01
      
      Are you 5 years old or what? Why are you so pressed?
Mark Saunders (@mcs1)
1st September 2018, 15:09

Bottas is just another Vandoorne.
1. Mashiat (@mashiat)
  1st September 2018, 15:18
  
  @mcs1 Waste of a seat. Alonso and Verstappen don’t get title-winning cars, but Bottas does. We could very easily have had a great three-way battle for the championship.
  1. Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
    1st September 2018, 18:52
    
    Waste of a seat and they still will have had him for at least 3 seasons. They even said that he will likely have an option to continue in 2020. The way that was written makes it look like it is quite possible he will have more than just another season with this team. And that was their decision. Verstappen is not doing better than Bottas this season. Not that I think he isn’t capable. But Verstappen would have waisted many more points than he has with Red Bull if he made the mistakes he has this year at Mercedes. And you also should note that Verstappen chose to stay at Red Bull for quite some time. So don’t be sure that we won’t get a title winning car. Signing a deal like that will likely mean he’s convinced by something, even if the car isn’t great instantly. And Although I respect Alonso’s ability, Mercedes clearly didn’t want him. And I think his attitude in the last couple of years has been rather poor. He sounds like he doesn’t want to be here. So I do respect his decision to retire. But same as Verstappen, I don’t doubt his ability.
    
    You should also remember that without Bottas’s bad luck this year, it is likely he’d still be close to being within a race wins amount of points behind Hamilton. So if bad luck had gone Hamilton’s way (possible) Bottas still could have had potential to be in the fight. it is likely that when Mercedes announced Bottas for next season that they realised how high up in the points he could have been if not for his bad luck. A waste of a seat is very unreasonable to say.
2. Panagiotis Papatheodorou (@panagiotism-papatheodorou)
  1st September 2018, 15:22
  
  And that is why I respect Rosberg. He wasn’t as fast as Lewis but he was never degraded to a No.2 driver for Merc.
  1. Mark Saunders (@mcs1)
    1st September 2018, 15:31
    
    Exactly why on biased fans don’t understand what happened during the last several season with Mercedes and not favouring any driver. Ferrari just the opposite … just wait until tomorrow.
Dr Sven (@svend1)
1st September 2018, 15:10

YES, YES, YES, YES!!!!!!
Jere (@jerejj)
1st September 2018, 15:10

Vettel’s still going to win.
1. Jere (@jerejj)
  1st September 2018, 15:11
  
  If nothing unusual happens that is.
2. Todfod (@todfod)
  1st September 2018, 15:20
  
  Of course.. Not or merit though.
  1. Tom
    1st September 2018, 15:31
    
    it could be on merit but we will never know because Ferrari will just give Vettel the better strategy or tell him to move over like in Germany. I believe he would have the pace to keep Vettel behind but we will never see a real race between them.
  2. Panagiotis Papatheodorou (@panagiotism-papatheodorou)
    1st September 2018, 16:00
    
    Why don’t we wait and see? Seb may jump him in the start and dominate the whole race. Or the opposite may happen. We will have to wait and see. He may win on merit he may not.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
1st September 2018, 15:10

Love to see Raikkonen in 1st! But have to say confused why they didn’t switch them? I mean if Mercedes are cool with using Bottas to help Hamilton win the title surely Ferrari should use Raikkonen to help Vettel?
1. Phylyp (@phylyp)
  1st September 2018, 15:16
  
  @rocketpanda – I don’t know, but respect to Ferrari for doing that.
  
  And for some reason, I’m unduly happy that Kimi is the man with the fastest average in F1, glad he’s got his name in the record books now.
  1. hahostolze (@hahostolze)
    1st September 2018, 15:21
    
    Most fastest laps in a season – 2008 and 2005 (tied with Schumi).
  2. toiago (@toiago)
    1st September 2018, 15:22
    
    @phylyp – I think he still holds some records from the 2005 season. But yeah, I echo that sentiment!
    1. Phylyp (@phylyp)
      1st September 2018, 15:29
      
      @hahostolze @toiago – oops, I realized I worded that wrongly, my earlier comment implied Kimi held no records (although I assumed he had some). Thank you both for pointing out the error.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
1st September 2018, 15:11

Best qualy session I’ve seen in a while, 10/10.

If the race is half as entertaining, we’ll be laughing!

FORZA KIMI!
1. Mashiat (@mashiat)
  1st September 2018, 15:20
  
  @jaymenon10 If the race is half as entertaining, that would make it a 5/10, and nobody wants that!
  1. Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
    1st September 2018, 15:21
    
    Fair enough…poor choice of words…haha
Markp
1st September 2018, 15:12

Awesome. Ferrari should enable Vettel to win if he is fast enough as Kimi is not in title contention. Love the crowds reaction to Jesus Shakur or is it Tupac Christ.
Fikri Harish (@)
1st September 2018, 15:18

I hope that Ferrari won’t use this as an excuse to sign Kimi for another year.

A mediocre driver had a good qualifying session today and I’m not talking about Stroll.
1. koddamn (@gufdamm)
  1st September 2018, 15:23
  
  Not fair to say that about Vettel.
  1. Sridhar
    1st September 2018, 15:37
    
    Lol
  2. NS Biker (@rekibsn)
    1st September 2018, 17:57
    
    What’s not to like about Kimi as a team-mate.?
    He is a PR dream, since he never says the wrong thing. He doesn’t say anything, so is never wrong.
    As a driver, I understand his experience and technical input is a big value to the team.
    From Vettel’s perspective he’s fast, consistent, and as a slow starter, usually finishes behind. Perfect team-mate.
    My bet, yes, they will sign him for next year …. again.
MG1982 (@mg1982)
1st September 2018, 15:18

Great for RAI. Hope he has the pace to win tomorrow and nothing funny happens at the start. A little weird BOT performances, too much behind. Hope Mercedes give him the same machinery and did not turn him into a complete no.2 already.
1. Tom
  1st September 2018, 15:23
  
  If anything funny happens it will be at the pit stops or just asking Kimi directly to move out of the way for Vettel. Ferrari might use him as a block for Hamilton and let Vettel run away with it.
  
  Nothing strange from Mercedes. Last season Hamilton was consistently .5 or better than Bottas in the second half of the season.
  1. Ravefan
    1st September 2018, 15:37
    
    Yes the old Ferrari “ Kimi Vettel is faster than you”.
2. Joao (@johnmilk)
  1st September 2018, 15:28
  
  He is not a number 2, he his Hamilton’s wingman
budchekov (@budchekov)
1st September 2018, 15:21

Between now and then I’ll be in the lotus position sticking pins in my Seb Voodo Doll..

@How about RG ? Impressive.
Todfod (@todfod)
1st September 2018, 15:23

Will be interesting to see the race start tomorrow. My guess is the “we’ll talk later” discussion will include how kimi will either give Sebastian the position in to turn one tomorrow or later during the first round of pitstops.

Would be awesome if Lewis jumps Sebastian at the start. Would make the whole race strategy a whole lot more interesting.
1. javier javier (@j3d89)
  1st September 2018, 15:26
  
  my guess is that even if lewis jumping on the start ferrari going to hunt him down the straight, theyre pretty even on power but according to toto ferrari have better traction out of slow corners
2. Sviat
  1st September 2018, 16:52
  
  @todfod
  
  Would be awesome if Lewis jumps Sebastian at the start.
  
  You know that will never happen (which is a shame). Lewis was rubbish at the starts since 2016.
Racefan
1st September 2018, 15:33

Was Force India punishing Perez for putting them in administration?? I wonder what happened there.

Congrats to Kimi great lap!! Not bad for an old man.
Jorge Lardone (@jorge-lardone)
1st September 2018, 15:38

Systematic detractors of Stroll do not comment on anything today. Is it because he did a good job?
1. Racefan
  1st September 2018, 15:44
  
  He did. It should be Ocon and Stroll at Force India.
  1. NS Biker (@rekibsn)
    1st September 2018, 17:58
    
    Deafening silence.
Niefer (@niefer)
1st September 2018, 15:42

Really nice Q3! Great job from Kimi, I’d really like see him win tomorrow.

All the pressure of the world on Seb now. The chance of leaving Retifilo in 3rd is real.

As for Lewis, that much of crying for just a tenth? Oh my God…

Wingman, 0.5 off, what a waste of seat. Man, I feel really bad for Ocon.
Aaditya (@neutronstar)
1st September 2018, 15:43

Fantastic job by Stroll and good job by Sirotkin. They are supposed to be driving an “evil” car.
1. toiago (@toiago)
  1st September 2018, 18:31
  
  And they are, @neutronstar, no wonder they just manage a decent qualifying session at precisely the track where downforce is needed the least. Otherwise they’d be trundling around at the back of the pack with the McLarens.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
1st September 2018, 16:01

As someone who’s been critical of Stroll, today was an impressive show. Does the lad have some Italian blood in him? Second year running he’s impressed at Monza (and this year with a rubbish car to boot).

And since I can’t resist… given Stroll beat Perez in one-lap pace today, maybe they should keep their respective seats?
1. Pinak Ghosh
  1st September 2018, 16:32
  
  Less corners to remember
Ju88sy (@ju88sy)
1st September 2018, 16:08

Would be fabulous if Kimi can convert this pole into a win, reflecting his hugely improved form this season. Long overdue a win in a car that’s been capable of winning races for a few seasons now. Fingers crossed he has a fast start!

Happy to admit that prior to and in the early parts of this season, I would have been happy to see Ferrari swap drivers for 2019, however we have seen glimpses of Kimi’s old pace, just needs to do it in the race tomorrow!
Loup Garou (@loup-garou)
1st September 2018, 16:12

Verstappen could figure at the start. He is in P5, right behind Hamilton in P3.
1. Moi
  1st September 2018, 17:00
  
  No point, car is just too slow. He’ll have a boring race I predict, too slow for 1-4 and too fast for the rest. If nothing happens with the top 4 he’ll finish 5th (unless his Renault blows)
2. Panagiotis Papatheodorou (@panagiotism-papatheodorou)
  1st September 2018, 17:07
  
  Indeed! I don’t expect the Red Bull to pose much of a threat to the leaders but it would be interesting if he got into the mix in the first lap.
Panagiotis Papatheodorou (@panagiotism-papatheodorou)
1st September 2018, 16:13

Good job Stroll!
1. NS Biker (@rekibsn)
  1st September 2018, 18:05
  
  Fear is that Grosjean will take out half the field, 5th down to 10th, at the first corner.
  “Nahhhh”, the voice in the wilderness said … “He would never do that…”
  DR and Hulk might benefit from taking it easy off the start. So long as these two keep it on the road for the first lap, there will be some amazing drafting and passing work going on for the whole race. Should be fun.
Frederick Mann (@myst)
1st September 2018, 18:02

Bottas had to tow Hamilton the whole session. Even Crofty noticed it right from the beginning.
1. Alex
  1st September 2018, 19:32
  
  I do feel sorry for Bottas having to be Lewis’ wingman but from a team perspective its totally understandable. Its actually what Ferrari should be doing and I can Kimi not playing ball tomorow.
  1. Balue (@balue)
    2nd September 2018, 9:56
    
    It’s what he was hired as, but also why Raikkonen was retained. The weird thing is that it’s not Ferrari being the most blatant about it. It’s Mercedes, who prides itself on team spirit go figure.
    1. Balue (@balue)
      2nd September 2018, 9:58
      
      Before, after Rosberg and Hakkinen the saying was “If you want to win, hire a Finn” – but now it has sadly become “If you want your main man to win, hire a Finn”

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2018 Italian Grand Prix

2018 F1 grids

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Keith Collantine

85 comments on “2018 Italian Grand Prix grid”