Were there any shocks? Well, Alpine had a shocker themselves, with both cars eliminated in Q3. Is that a surprise? They are such a mercurial team that it cannot be. One week they are up there leading the midfield, but other times they are in this mire. Lance Stroll qualified 20th and last but, given his qualifying record over the years that cannot be an enormous surprise. 

What chances do we have of a competitive race today? Well, the Red Bull has not always been the fastest car over one lap this season, with Mercedes taking a pole and Ferrari now taking three. It has, however, always been (and comfortably so) the fastest car over a race distance on Sunday. 

Of course, with Sainz starting on pole, there is a fair chance that he may be able to stay in front and win from there but it really needs, you think, him to stay there. Leclerc cannot be ruled out of the equation either. Still, I wouldn’t hold out much hope of Ferrari producing a superior strategy and execution to Red Bull. But were it to happen, it would be quite the sight. A Ferrari win at Monza.

The race gets going at 2pm BST and we will be here for all the build-up, live updates and reaction from the Italian Grand Prix. We’ve had some good ones in the past, let’s hope for another.