Pirelli F1 Italian Grand-Prix qualifying review 02.09.2017: - Wet weather with extreme conditions means that FP3 and qualifying are interrupted - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton claims

- Wet weather with extreme conditions means that FP3 and qualifying are interrupted

- Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton claims his 69 pole position, using full wet tyre, following a delay of more than two hours

-Dry conditions expected for tomorrow: One-stop strategy should be most likely, although teams are still lacking some data





Wet weather conditions at Monza that led to the GP3 and Porsche qualifying sessions being scrubbed also affected Formula 1, FP3 and qualifying, which was halted during Q1 with 13 minutes left to go.




After several consecutive 15-minute delays, qualifying finally resumed more than two hours behind schedule once the rain had diminished.



The session was run on wet tyres during the first part of Q1 and then on both intermediate and full wet tyres afterwards as the rain continued in Q2 and Q3, with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton claiming his 69th pole position by more than a second. This gives him the record for the highest number of pole positions in Formula 1 history.



Because qualifying was a wet session, the top 10 are no longer obliged to run the tyres on which they set their fastest Q2 times for the race start tomorrow.




MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR RACING


“The extreme wet conditions with standing water on the track clearly wasn’t ideal preparation for the grand prix. Monza is the fastest circuit on the championship and even these extreme conditions didn’t stop some drivers reaching top speeds of more than 300kph.



On top of that, there are not enough corners to increase tyre temperature and the day was not warm. However, the indications are that tomorrow’s race should be dry, which presents a completely different challenge to what was eventually seen in qualifying.



Teams will have to rely on the dry data gained from free practice yesterday in what is likely to be a one-stopper. Without a full complement of information heading into the race, and with a free tyre choice for the starting grid, the teams will have to monitor tyre behaviour carefully tomorrow”.



HOW THE TYRES BEHAVED TODAY



Not seen in wet qualifying. Will be a vital for the race.

With free tyre choice for race start, this could make an interesting alternative.

Unlikely to figure in the race.

Used in Q1 and most of Q2.

Used in FP3, Q1 and to set pole



DRIVER TIME COMPOUND


Hamilton 1m35.554s
WET NEW
Verstappen 1m 36.702s
WET NEW
Ricciardo 1m 36.841s
WET NEW
Stroll 1m 37.032s
WET NEW
Ocon 1m 37.719s
WET NEW
Bottas 1m 37.833s
WET NEW
Raikkonen 1m 37.987s
WET NEW
Vettel 1m 38.064s
WET NEW
Massa 1m 38.251s
WET USED
Vandoorne 1m 39.157s
WET NEW
COMPOUND DRIVER LAPS

MEDIUM Palmer 16
SOFT Stroll 31
SUPERSOFT Massa 25
INTERMEDIATE Raikkonen 10
WET Massa, Hulkenberg 12

COMPOUND DRIVER TIME

MEDIUM Palmer 1m 26.370s



Anthony Peacock - photo Pirelli