George Russell on pole for F2 Feature Race at the Italian GP
Championship rival Lando Norris only seventh
Thursday 6 December 2018 10:53, UK
George Russell took his fourth pole position of the season in qualifying for the F2 Feature Race at the Italian GP.
After a difficult Sunday in Belgium, it was the perfect way to bounce back for the Mercedes junior and the four points for pole means his championship lead over Lando Norris is now nine points.
Sergio Sette Camara had set the pace after the first runs in qualifying, but was pipped by 0.054 seconds on the second runs and the Brazilian lines up alongside Russell on the front row.
London-born Thai driver Alexander Albon was third quickest for DAMS, ahead of Artem Markelov with Nicholas Latifi in the second DAMS fifth - his best qualifying result this season.
Fuoco was sixth for Charouz, with Norris leaving himself lots of work to do from seventh on the grid.
The teams head into the race weekend with less data than normal after rain impacted on the practice session and that perhaps explains why the drivers couldn't make the soft Pirelli tyres last for two flying laps.
Tyre-wear could therefore play a critical part in Saturday's Feature Race which is live on Sky Sports F1 following F1 qualifying from 3:40pm.
