Hours after qualifying, the FIA has finally decided on the starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix. Confusion, but also indignation, grew as people wondered what the starting order would be on Sunday. Several Formula One drivers and teams were now openly wondering what their starting position would be, but the FIA has finally made up its mind.
FIA creates confusion over starting grid
The FIA seemed unable to work out the order in which grid penalties should be applied and the consequences for the starting grid. The governing body had not even released a provisional grid hours after qualifying, and so the order in which drivers will start at Monza remained a matter of conjecture. Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly and Red Bull Racing openly questioned which position they would start the race from.
Meanwhile, the FIA has made up its mind. There was a lot of confusion about the grid penalty for Max Verstappen, who according to some would start from P4 and according to others from P7. He himself suspected the latter, and the Dutchman was proved right. Verstappen will therefore start from the fourth row, right next to compatriot Nyck de Vries.