F1 | Red Bull, Albon: “I was satisfied before the final lap in Q3, but we have everything to fight for”

Alexander Albon will start from the fourth row in the Italian Grand Prix. The Thai concluded qualifying in Monza with the eighth fastest time and will start alongside Carlos Sainz's McLaren tomorrow.

"Even though I'm still learning how to make the car really fast, I was satisfied before the final lap in Q3. I was fighting for P4 or P5 but then we got the red flag and the lap was compromised. On the second attempt it was a priority for us to improve the time, but the guys who had already done one lap could afford to be a little slower”, said Albon, referring to the atypical final stages of the third and final qualifying heat”.

"Everyone came out too late because no one wanted to be in front because we all wanted the slipstream and that created a delay – admitted the Red Bull standard bearer -. These cars have a lot of downforce, so getting a slipstream can give you the extra two or three tenths you need to improve. I was trying to pass the other cars but as everyone was slowing down on the straights to maintain tire temperature it became impossible to overtake. I realized from turn 4 that it would be difficult to make it".

Completing his analysis Albon added: “We should have taken less risks in the second moto, but we were fighting for the top five positions. Getting a good position in qualifying would have made tomorrow's race much easier, but yesterday I had a good pace so we have everything to fight for".