In perhaps the most challenging qualifying conditions of the year, Lewis Hamilton earned his 69th career Formula One pole for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
Mother Nature can throw some major challenges in your direction when you’re out for a drive. Now try tackling that when going over 180 miles per hour around the historic Monza circuit in Italy. Lewis Hamilton was up to the challenge of a wet track on Saturday in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, setting a new record in qualifying on pole.
Hamilton, who earned his 69th career pole in the wet conditions, now holds the Formula One record for the most pole positions all-time in the world championship. Last week, he tied Michael Schumacher for the top spot. It took the former champion just one week to eclipse that mark.
The session was not only one of the wettest, but also one of the longest of the F1 season. Just five minutes after qualifying got underway with moderate rain, Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean crashed. The resumption of the session was then delayed for over two hours because of heavy downpours at Monza.
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Rain would ultimately shuffle up the order for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix, with four teams making up the top five spots. The Red Bull teammates of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo qualified in 2nd and 3rd, but both will suffer grid penalties. The surprise of the session was rookie Lance Stroll, who qualified in 4th and will ultimately start in 2nd. Force India’s Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 5.
Here are the full qualifying results from the Italian Grand Prix:
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Mercedes AMG Petronas
- Max Verstappen, Tag Heuer, Red Bull Racing
- Daniel Ricciardo, Tag Heuer, Red Bull Racing
- Lance Stroll, Mercedes, Williams Martini Racing
- Esteban Ocon, Mercedes, Force India
- Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, Mercedes AMG Petronas
- Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari
- Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari
- Felipe Massa, Mercedes, Williams Martini Racing
- Stoffel Vandoorne, Honda, McLaren
- Sergio Perez, Mercedes, Force India
- Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, Renault Sport
- Fernando Alonso, Honda, McLaren
- Daniil Kvyat, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso
- Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso
- Kevin Magnussen, Ferrari, Haas F1
- Jolyon Palmer, Renault, Renault Sport
- Marcus Ericsson, Ferrari, Sauber
- Pascal Wehrlein, Ferrari, Sauber
- Romain Grosjean, Ferrari, Haas F1
Next: What to Watch for in the Italian Grand Prix
Be sure to tune in to Sunday’s coverage of the Italian Grand Prix from the Monza circuit. Coverage can be seen live on NBCSN, with Leigh Diffey, David Hobbs, and Steve Matchett on the call of the race. Will Buxton will report from the paddock.