Hamilton looked favourite to take pole position at Monza having shown impreꦿssive pace up until Q3.

Benefitti🍒ng from a slipstream off Bottas🏅, Hamilton led the way after the first runs, with the Finn down in fifth.

Bottas pipped Hamilton at the end of Q3, making the most of a tow from꧅ the 𝕴train of cars ahead to take pole for tomorrow’s sprint race.

It’s on🌠ly the fourth time in 2021 that Hamilton has be꧋en beaten his teammate in qualifying.

Reflecting on𓄧 the session, Hamilton said: “There was plenty in it. I mean it’s close between us all. Valtteri did a grea🍨t job right at the end. Not the best of qualifyings for me. P1 was really.

“For whatever reꩲason, I just struggled in the session, but anyways, still on t⛦he front row. It’s great to have a front-row lock-out for the team. It’s great as I said, particularly with the news last week to see Valtteri driving so well.”

Maxꦆ Verstappen will start third, beating Lando Norris by the narrowest of margins.

Hamilton says it was a surprise to see Red Bull so close after𝓡 it struggled for pa🐲ce in the first two parts of qualifying.

“I don’t know where they ꧟pulled out their pace but it’s going to be close,” he added. ꧅“They were miles off in 1 and 2 but suddenly they were right up there with us. That shows it’s super close.”