Lewis Hamilton admitted that he went into today's qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix nervous about whether he had made the right decision over some radical changes to the set-up of his car.
In the end it all worked out for the Briton, who set a new track record time of 1:18.887s to take his 94th career pole position and the sixth of the 2020 season, by just 0.069s over his team mate Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton praised the squad for its tactics, which saw them beat the 'rush hour' at the end of final round of qualifying that had frustrated many drivers during the session.
“Fantastic performance form the team today just in terms of timing, when they put us out on track," Hamilton told the media after the end of qualifying.
"I think we learned from last year in terms of going out at the end wasn't the best for us. The strategy team did a really great job in terms of the timing.
"It's something we discussed yesterday and again today. Ultimately I think it was bang on."
While other drivers fixated on getting the tow down the straights, Hamilton said that he was undecided whether it was better to seek that boost or to find clear air.
The two Mercedes were eight tenths quicker than the next best driver who was McLaren's Carlos Sainz, despite the team no longer being able to run their engine in 'party mode'.
"We did say last week when they brought in this rule to slow us down that it wasn't really going to make a difference, because we've got a great, great car, and we'll be better in other areas."
While another pole for Hamilton may look like business as usual, the driver himself said that he certainly wasn't taking anything for granted, and revealed that he'd gone into the session apprehensive about whether he had made the right call on set-up.
“I made some big changes going in to qualifying, so I was a little bit nervous going in that it was the right thing to do.
“I’ve had times where I’ve had less downforce and less grip,” he explained. "But it worked just fine.
"Today with the temperatures, there was quite a lot of grip out there. The speeds we’re going through the Lesmos is pretty awesome.
“It was not the easiest," he continued. "You saw how close it was between us all, so it really demanded a clean lap and I think I got that on both.
“You are moving around when you get to the low speed sections. Turns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, it’s definitely a little bit tricky there.
"But the rest of it, you’re just trying to gauge how much you try and attack, keep the minimum speed up and make sure you get the exits.
"You’ve got these long straights, so it’s trying to find the balance which is not so easy.”
“It was not too bad!” he concluded. "I’m generally really happy with the actual laps I did. Valtteri was very, very close, pushing."
Bottas admitted that he was feeling frustrated to be pipped to pole by his team mate yet again.
"I’ve been feeling fast this weekend so obviously a bit disappointed to be second instead of first," he said.
Bottas had been top in Q2 with the help of a tow from his team mate, but opted not to slipstream Hamilton in his final Q3 lap.
"It came to the choice if I’m running first or second," he told the post-qualifying press conference. "I took the first because from our analysis it shouldn’t be much of a difference.
"I just experienced once in qualifying a tow at the end of Q2, and actually it didn’t feel too bad and that’s when I had the quickest time.," he said. "Just cutting the wind at the front, in the corners I was fast."
But whether a tow would have made the difference in securing pole position remains an open question for the Finn: "It’s impossible to say without seeing the data which one was better.”
Even so it's the first time Bottas will start the Italian Grand Prix from the front row, and he thinks his chances for the race remain strong.
"My long run pace compared to Lewis was good, so it's going to be a good race tomorrow and everything to play for."
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