Formula 1 News

Italian GP, 1st Free Practice Session: Ferrari one-two 

Ferrari began their home Grand Prix weekend in the ideal fashion by taking a one-two in the first free practice session at Monza. Kimi Raikkonen moved to the top of the timing screens with his first flying lap halfway through the 90 minutes, and remained at the head of the field for the rest of the morning. His 1’22”446 lap was 0.144 seconds faster than teammate Felipe Massa’s best effort.

McLaren had a more difficult morning, although by the end of the session third-placed Lewis Hamilton was just 0.028 seconds slower than Massa. The championship leader had led the way briefly before Raikkonen emerged, and managed to stay within two tenths of the Ferraris for most of practice, although his penultimate run was interrupted by a spin at the first chicane. Fernando Alonso missed much of the session after reporting a misfire on his installation laps. He finally joined the action in the final half hour, but took several trips across the new run-off at the Roggia chicane and also had a spin at the same place. After lapping seven tenths of a second off the pace initially, Alonso ultimately improved to within 0.394 seconds of Raikkonen with his last lap.

Williams’ Nico Rosberg was the fastest driver outside the Ferrari/McLaren quartet once again, but was a second off the pace in fifth place.

Jenson Button showed good form for Honda as he completed the top six, with teammate Rubens Barrichello jumping to 12th late on having languished in the bottom three for much of the morning.

Giancarlo Fisichella took seventh for Renault, with the BMWs eighth and ninth ahead of early pacesetter Jarno Trulli’s Toyota.