Hamilton, Mercedes On Pole!

Lewis owns Monza, Ferrari impotent. Lewis Hamilton and his No. 44 Mercedes easily took pole for the 2016 Italian Grand Prix at the legendary Monza circuit with a lap of 1:21.135. It is his seventh pole of the year, and 56th of his career. Hamilton is third on the all-time Pole list, nine behind Ayrton Senna. It is also Hamilton's fourth Italian Grand Prix pole in five years. All three previous poles have led to victory. 

For Mercedes, it is the team's 12th Pole of the season. 

Nico Rosberg just can't keep up at Monza. He was a half second back. He will start on the front row, but clearly is slow compared to Hamilton. 

Behind, Ferrari engine upgrades still couldn't keep up with Mercedes. The team has proven completely incapable of catching Mercedes this season, and even at their home track they have failed. 

Sebastian Vettel still start third for Ferrari, but a woeful eight tenths back. Kimi Raikkonen cleaned up row two. 

Valtteri Bottas (Williams) rounded out the top-five qualifiers. 

Q1 Recap 

A horrible showing from 10 teams in the opening Q1 qualifying made their efforts nearly pointless. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg strapped on the supersofts and no other car or driver combination could get within 1.2 seconds. Pathetic results on such a short circuit. 

Esteban Ocon (Manor) at least had a reason to be slow. His car brought out the only yellow of the session after stopping at the first chicane. 

KO'd in Q1: Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso), Felipe Nasr (Sauber), Marcus Ericsson (Sauber), Jolyon Palmer (Renault), Kevin Magnussen (Renault), Esteban Ocon (Manor). 

Q2 Recap 

For Q2, the two Mercedes went to the soft tyre - the tyre they would want to start the race on - and the rest of the field helplessly tried to get close. 

Sebastian Vettel got within eight tenths of Mercedes after using supersofts in Q2, but at the front Lewis Hamilton using softs was easily out front at 1:21.498. 

Red Bull attempted to give the soft strategy a shot, but after runs that put their cars ninth and tenth, the team opted for supersofts to secure their positions in Q3. It would turn out to be the correct call from the pit wall. 

KO'd in Q2: Felipe Massa (Williams), Romain Grosjean (Haas), Fernando Alonso (McLaren Honda), Pascal Wehrlein (Manor), Jenson Button (McLaren Honda), Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso). 

Q3 Recap 

Hamilton romped to Pole. 'Nuff said. 

Next up, the 2016 Italian Grand Prix on Sunday.