<p>Valtteri Bottas claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix Sprint after snatching top spot in Friday's qualifying from his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.</p>.<p>Finn Bottas clocked one minute, 19.555 seconds on his last qualifying lap at Monza to finish just 0.096 sec ahead of seven-time world champion Hamilton, who had been fastest in the first two qualifying sessions and practice and had been leading Q3 until he was pipped in the final moments.</p>.<p>That means 32-year-old Bottas will lead the field in Saturday's 100km Sprint, which will decide the grid for the GP on Sunday and give championship points to the top three.</p>.<p>First place in the Sprint will take three points, second place two and third place one.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/formula-1/russell-has-nothing-to-lose-at-mercedes-says-future-team-mate-hamilton-1028888.html" target="_blank">Russell has nothing to lose at Mercedes, says future team mate Hamilton</a></strong></p>.<p>However Bottas will start at the back of the grid on Sunday regardless of how he fares in the Sprint as he was penalised for taking on power unit components.</p>.<p>"That qualifying lap was nice. It feels so good when you get a nice lap," said Bottas, who will join Alfa Romeo next season.</p>.<p>"I feel good, I feel relaxed and everything is sorted for the future."</p>.<p>Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen took third, 0.411sec off Bottas, as he tries to defend his tiny three-point lead from Hamilton, who on Sunday will again attempt to bring up a century of GP victories.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/formula-1/valtteri-bottas-to-join-alfa-romeo-f1-team-from-mercedes-in-2022-1027670.html" target="_blank">Valtteri Bottas to join Alfa Romeo F1 team from Mercedes in 2022</a></strong></p>.<p>Hamilton has been stuck on 99 wins since taking the British GP at Silverstone in mid-July, which was when the Sprint qualifying format was used for the first time.</p>.<p>Dutchman Verstappen was behind the Mercedes pair all day as he struggled to keep up with their pace, but seemed encouraged by his showing in Friday's qualifying.</p>.<p>"For us this track is always going to be difficult... We recovered quite well throughout the qualifying," said Verstappen.</p>.<p>"I'm so happy to be third here... I think we can score a good amount of points."</p>.<p>McLaren pair Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo performed well and finished close behind Verstappen, fourth and fifth respectively.</p>.<p>Charles Leclerc asked the Ferrari fans at Monza to create the same fervour as that which accompanied Verstappen's win at the Dutch GP last week.</p>.<p>And the Monegasque finished eighth, 0.955sec off Bottas and a place behind his teammate Carlos Sainz.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>Valtteri Bottas claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix Sprint after snatching top spot in Friday's qualifying from his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.</p>.<p>Finn Bottas clocked one minute, 19.555 seconds on his last qualifying lap at Monza to finish just 0.096 sec ahead of seven-time world champion Hamilton, who had been fastest in the first two qualifying sessions and practice and had been leading Q3 until he was pipped in the final moments.</p>.<p>That means 32-year-old Bottas will lead the field in Saturday's 100km Sprint, which will decide the grid for the GP on Sunday and give championship points to the top three.</p>.<p>First place in the Sprint will take three points, second place two and third place one.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/formula-1/russell-has-nothing-to-lose-at-mercedes-says-future-team-mate-hamilton-1028888.html" target="_blank">Russell has nothing to lose at Mercedes, says future team mate Hamilton</a></strong></p>.<p>However Bottas will start at the back of the grid on Sunday regardless of how he fares in the Sprint as he was penalised for taking on power unit components.</p>.<p>"That qualifying lap was nice. It feels so good when you get a nice lap," said Bottas, who will join Alfa Romeo next season.</p>.<p>"I feel good, I feel relaxed and everything is sorted for the future."</p>.<p>Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen took third, 0.411sec off Bottas, as he tries to defend his tiny three-point lead from Hamilton, who on Sunday will again attempt to bring up a century of GP victories.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/formula-1/valtteri-bottas-to-join-alfa-romeo-f1-team-from-mercedes-in-2022-1027670.html" target="_blank">Valtteri Bottas to join Alfa Romeo F1 team from Mercedes in 2022</a></strong></p>.<p>Hamilton has been stuck on 99 wins since taking the British GP at Silverstone in mid-July, which was when the Sprint qualifying format was used for the first time.</p>.<p>Dutchman Verstappen was behind the Mercedes pair all day as he struggled to keep up with their pace, but seemed encouraged by his showing in Friday's qualifying.</p>.<p>"For us this track is always going to be difficult... We recovered quite well throughout the qualifying," said Verstappen.</p>.<p>"I'm so happy to be third here... I think we can score a good amount of points."</p>.<p>McLaren pair Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo performed well and finished close behind Verstappen, fourth and fifth respectively.</p>.<p>Charles Leclerc asked the Ferrari fans at Monza to create the same fervour as that which accompanied Verstappen's win at the Dutch GP last week.</p>.<p>And the Monegasque finished eighth, 0.955sec off Bottas and a place behind his teammate Carlos Sainz.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>