McLaren Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz was left “shaking” after “risking a lot” on his way to claiming third pla♏ce on the grid for the Italian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard turned in a stunninꦅg late lap in the final part of qualifying to take third place, just eight-tenths behind the dominant Mercedes duo, and ahead💦 of both Sergio Perez’s Racing Point and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

But Sainz was worri🍨ed he had ruined his final flying effort with a mistake at the first Lesmo.

“On the last lap I nearly messed up,” Sainz said. “I had a big moment in the first Lesmo and I nearly lost it. From that point on I had to drivꦫe on the edge.

“I’m actually shaking a bit, because I really ဣhad to go for it through Ascari and Parabolica.”

Third on 🅰the grid at Monza marks Sainz’s career-best starting position in F1. Teammate Lando Norris was sixth fastest as McLaren recorded its strongest qualify꧅ing result of the season so far.

“I felt like I nailed Q1 and Q2, but on the first run in Q3, I didn’t q♑uite nail it,” he explained.

“The lap didn’t start very well, so I needed some very strong final corners. I really went for it. I ris🥂ked a lot and it paid off. 🔥As you can see, after the dive I did into Ascari, I was a bit like ‘woah, that was way too late’.

“I’ve been feeling very strong since the start of qualifying, since Q1. I managed to getꦗ through Q1 with only one set of tyres with a very strong lap.

“And from there I was just chipping away and trying to to put a 1’19.6 ꧙on the board, which I knew would’ve given me a top five position.”