Italian GP qualifying: Drivers timed out before final laps in 'crazy' climax

Italian GP qualifying ended in bizarre circumstances on Saturday as all but one of the remaining drivers in Q3 failed to post a final lap.

The final lap was under investigation from race stewards but no grid penalties were handed out.

After their first laps in the final shootout and Kimi Raikkonen's crash, drivers were waiting as long as possible in the pits before heading out again - looking to utilise the slipstream at high-speed Monza - but only Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who had provisional pole, managed to get around to start their last laps.

Leclerc on pole after qualy shambles
Sky F1's Italian GP TV times

Neither driver improved which meant the positions from the first runs were unaltered - with Leclerc sealing pole for home favourites Ferrari after the chaotic climax.

Lewis Hamilton was second for Mercedes ahead of Valtteri Bottas, with Sebastian Vettel fourth.

"That is one of the silliest things I've ever seen in F1," said Sky F1's Martin Brundle.

What happened and who was at fault?
Nico Hulkenberg was the first driver out of the pits with less than two minutes remaining in qualifying, ahead of Lance Stroll, Carlos Sainz and the Ferraris. But the Renault driver went straight on through the bollards at the Turn One chicane, presumably in a bid to relinquish the lead position and benefit from the tow.

Stewards investigated that incident but ruled that no further action was required. While Hulkenberg, along with Sainz and Stroll, were only reprimanded for driving too slowly on that lap.

Stroll then slowed down to let Sainz through and the McLaren was then side-by-side with the returning Hulkenberg, effectively blocking the track for those behind him.

He eventually sped up to lead the field but with time running out, all drivers were effectively racing each other for track position, and to make the line before the end of the session.

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Sainz was ahead of the Ferraris, who went wheel to wheel before the Parabolica curve as Leclerc looked to get back ahead of Vettel, who he was supposed to be giving the tow too. Only Sainz and Leclerc made it across the line in time - barely.

"The tow is key to getting a good lap here and everyone was slowing right down, and also blocking the way so you couldn't really get through," said Hamilton. "It was pretty dangerous, I nearly crashed a couple of times.

"I couldn't overtake anyone, there was weaving and braking, and it was like trying to avoid carnage all the time. We had a couple of people holding everyone up, trying to let people by."

Leclerc, on pole for back-to-back races, added: "The McLaren and Renault stopped in the middle of the track and we had nowhere to go.

"I definitely think what happened at the second corner shouldn't happen, there were two cars side-by-side and we couldn't pass them. I think most of the drivers wanted to pass but didn't get opportunity.

"These situations made a big mess and that's why so many cars didn't make it to start their laps."

Red Bull's Christian Horner blamed Hulkenberg, telling Sky F1: "The Renault that went straight on all caused all the issues. Of course, nobody wants to be at the front of the queue and it's obvious he went straight-on on purpose. Then it ends up in a cluster scenario."

Stroll said: "I was at the front of the queue and Nico was playing games, he cut the chicane trying to get me out in front, and I wasn't buying it."

Hamilton, whose Mercedes team appeared to be waiting for rivals Ferrari before leaving the pits themselves, initially appeared to point the finger at the Scuderia as he claimed: "It's interesting - get pole position in the first run and then time everyone out."

Hamilton later admitted he could not see who was in front.

"Honestly I don't know how many cars were up ahead," he said. "Ultimately it worked out well for them."

Leclerc insisted: "It was definitely not intentional from our side."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was similarly unimpressed, telling Sky F1: "That was not even worthy of a junior formula.

"Everybody looks like idiots."

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Why the fuss about the tow?
Long established as the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar, where straight-line speed is all-important, teams have regularly attempted to orchestate a 'tow' between their two cars in qualifying to gain lap time - but not usually to the extent witnessed on Saturday.

"It's normally a gentleman's agreement, you just go out and within reason position yourself in the right place," explained Stroll of out-lap etiquette. "This time it just got out of control and throughout the weekend teams and drivers started to see the lap time impact from getting a tow.

"For some reason, it's bigger this season than it's ever been and nobody wanted to be a sitting duck in a straight line."

Wolff added: "The problem is that everyone is trying to get the slipstream and it's a nerve game, who exits first. Then some who have exited first felt thought they need to reduce the speed even more, going through the chicane and outside of the track is just junior class."

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