Monza 'perfect place' for Raikkonen pole

Kimi Raikkonen said Monza was "the perfect place" to secure his first pole position of 2018 as he looks to convince Ferrari that he should remain in the team next year and possibly beyond. Raikkonen will start the Italian Grand Prix from P1 after delivering the fastest lap in Formula 1 history.

New Ferrari CEO Louis C. Camilleri is attending his first race since replacing Sergio Marchionne at Monza and said on Friday that reports of Raikkonen having been offered a two-year deal by the Scuderia were wide of the mark.

Charles Leclerc has been linked to the seat alongside Sebastian Vettel in 2019 - rumours that have resurfaced after it was initially thought that Camilleri would favour retaining Raikkonen in order to limit upheaval at Maranello following Marchionne's sudden passing.

What a climax to qualifying!

Kimi snatches his first pole at Monza since 2006 ????#ItalianGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/WBRBu3xm8D — Formula 1 (@F1) September 1, 2018

But Raikkonen delivered a timely reminder of his talents - aided by a tow from Vettel - as he blasted around the 'Temple of Speed' at an average pace of 263.587km/h (163.793mph), surpassing the record set by Juan Pablo Montoya at Monza in 2004.

Reflecting on his lap, Raikkonen said: "The second chicane on last run was pretty decent and enough for pole position.

"It is a lot of games going first and getting out first and this and that, but in the end there was a train of cars and that is enough [for a tow].

"The car has been working well. We didn’t change the car since the first runs, so all running smoothly so far.

"Hopefully tomorrow is a similar situation."