Italian GP: Ferrari document worst qualifying efficiency at dwelling since 1984

CNN
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Ferrari’s depressing season went from dangerous to worse because the Italian producer didn’t get any of its automobiles into the highest 10 at its dwelling Grand Prix for the primary time since 1984.

Sebastian Vettel didn’t make it out of the primary spherical of qualifying and will solely handle a lowly seventeenth, whereas team-mate Charles Leclerc superior to the second spherical of qualifying however may solely handle thirteenth on the grid forward of Sunday’s race.

Ferrari knew they had been going to battle for velocity at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, however not even they may have predicted issues can be this dangerous.

Leclerc is fifth within the drivers’ championship with 45 factors, already 112 factors behind runaway chief Lewis Hamilton. Issues are even worse for four-time world champion Vettel, who has simply 16 factors and is in thirteenth place.

Within the constructors’ standings, Ferrari is fifth and is 203 factors behind chief Mercedes.

A minuscule silver lining for Ferrari is that their fervent supporters, referred to as ‘tifosi’, weren’t current to witness the disastrous efficiency, and the races had been nonetheless contested behind closed doorways.

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“In the long run, we had been hoping for a little bit of a weekend,” a visibly annoyed Leclerc advised Sky Sports activities. “We knew Spa (final weekend) and right here had been the 2 worst tracks for us. It is like that… it is exhausting.

“In the meanwhile, that is how it’s and I’ve to get essentially the most out of the automotive. It hurts much more that he’s at dwelling. That is the truth for us proper now. We’ve got to work,” Leclerc mentioned.

On the high of the standings, Mercedes recorded one other 1-2 as Lewis Hamilton secured his eighth Italian Grand Prix pole, with teammate Valtteri Bottas narrowly lacking out by a tenth of a second to begin second on the grid.

“It was a improbable efficiency from the workforce,” Hamilton advised Sky Sports activities. “It wasn’t the best, you noticed how shut it was between us. I wanted a clear lap and I obtained each.

“Valtteri was robust and stored pushing, I used to be a bit nervous going by way of the ultimate sector. Within the years I have been right here, I’ve had moments the place we had much less downforce and fewer grip, (however) the velocity by way of the Lesmos (nook) was spectacular. He is making an attempt discovering the best stability that is not that simple,” Hamilton mentioned.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz delivered arguably the efficiency of the day to safe third place for his greatest grid place, whereas Racing Level driver Sergio Perez’s fourth place equaled his greatest qualifying place.

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