Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas beat team-mate Lewis Hamilton to qualify fastest for Saturday’s Italian Grand Prix ‘sprint’ race. Hamilton trails Red Bull’s Verstappen by three points in the title race. Saturday’s ‘sprint’ race results will set the grid for the main grand prix on Sunday. It is the second race of the season which has seen a change to the traditional format for grand prix weekends. But, following the pain of rejection from Mercedes for next season and the announcement he will race for a new team, Bottas cut a more relaxed figure. But on the final lap he managed to take a tow and beat Hamilton, who was behind him on the road. Hamilton said afterwards: “Congrats to Valtteri – he did a mega lap.

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