Italian Grand Prix 2012: McLaren lock out the front row.

McLaren has locked out the front row for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza with Lewis Hamilton on pole and Jenson Button second.

Lewis Hamilton grabbed pole position in Monza this afternoon for McLaren  in qualifying for the 2012 Italian Grand Prix, with a second place for Jenson Button locking out the front row for McLaren.

It had looked throughout Q1 and Q2 that it would be Ferrari who were dominant and likely to take pole, but Alonso suffered a rear roll bar problem at the start of Q3 and ended at the bottom in tenth place. However, team mate Felipe Massa managed third place to show the threat Ferrari will pose in tomorrow’s race.

Behind Massa is Paul di Resta in the Force India – a great qualifying for the Brit – soured by a five place penalty for a gearbox change that will see him starting in ninth place tomorrow.

The Tifosi will be pleased to see Michael Schumacher doing well (but not too well) in fifth place with Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull separating him from team mate Nico Rosberg in seventh.

The problem on Alonso’s Ferrari is a blow for the championship leader, but it should make for some fireworks in the race if Alonso’s car is back up to the form it showed in qualifying.