- Bottas on pole for sprint race which will decide GP grid positions
- Finn to start main race from back of grid after power unit change
Too little too late, but there was some consolation at least for Valtteri Bottas in qualifying in first place to take the front of the grid for Formula One’s second trial of its sprint race format at the Italian Grand Prix.
In the first race after Mercedes announced he was to be dropped by the team in favour of Williams’ George Russell, Bottas found some of the form that has deserted him this season. He put in an immense lap to beat his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton, into second and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen into third.