Qualifying Report - Clear View

With sunny, blue skies, there is a clear view of the Alps from certain places at the Monza circuit. Lewis Hamilton will have a clear view for the start of the Italian Grand Prix after qualifying his Mercedes on the pole.

The ambient temperature at the start of the session was 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Centigrade) and the track temperature was 93 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Centigrade). The humidity was 54 percent.

The line-up for the weekend was: Mercedes - Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Red Bull Renault - Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat. Williams Mercedes - Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren Honda - Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. Force India Mercedes - Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Toro Rosso Renault - Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Lotus Mercedes - Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. Marussia Ferrari - Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi. Sauber - Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr.

QUALIFYING 1

Stevens was the first driver out in the 18-minute Q1, and he thus set the first time - 1:28.254. But it was Hamilton who set the pace with a 1:24.649.

After most drivers had made their first runs, the top six were: Hamilton, Rosberg, Bottas, Vettel, Massa and Raikkonen.

Fifteen drivers would make the cut to Q2, and with 6 minutes to go, Kvyat was 14th, Alonso was 15th and Button was 16th.

In the final flurry of runs, Hamilton and Rosberg remained in the garage, as did the unlucky Verstappen. The latter just made it out in time, but a big piece of the bodywork flew off his car.

The top 10 at the end of Q1 were: Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Perez, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Vettel, Nasr, Ericsson and Grosjean.

The five drivers eliminated at the end of Q1 were: Button, Alonso, Stevens, Merhi and Verstappen.

Only the Ferrari and Mercedes drivers did not use the soft tires in Q1.

QUALIFYING 2

First out in the 15-minute Q2 were Rosberg and Bottas. Rosberg set the opening time with a 1:24.128, but Hamilton beat that with a 1:23.383. Then Vettel posted a 1:23.925 to split the pair only to have Raikkonen top that with a 1:23.757.

At the other end, out of the top 10, were Nasr, Grosjean, Sainz, Ricciardo and Kvyat. The latter four had yet to go out.

So the top six were: Hamilton, Raikkonen, Vettel, Rosberg, Massa and Bottas as the drivers headed out for their final runs. Hamilton, Raikkonen did not go out for a second run, and Ricciardo did not go out at all during Q2.

The top 10 at the end of Q2 were: Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Massa, Bottas, Perez, Grosjean, Ericsson and Hulkenberg.

The five drivers eliminated at the end of Q2 were: Maldonado, Nasr, Sainz, Kvyat and Ricciardo.

QUALIFYING 3

Hulkenberg got things rolling for the 12-minute Q3. Everybody but Ericsson and Perez was soon on the track.

Hulkenberg turned a 1:25.317, but lost power on cool down lap and stopped just outside of pit entry.

Hamilton topped the times with a 1:23.397 while Vettel did a lap in 1:23.705.

The order was now: Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Massa, Rosberg, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Perez and Ericsson.

With less than 3 minutes remaining in the session, everybody was on track but Hulkenberg.

Hamilton was unable to improve but kept the pole as Raikkonen beat Vettel for second place. Rosberg, Massa, Bottas, Perez, Grosjean, Hulkenberg and Ericsson rounded out the top 10.