Italian GP Friday and Saturday Practice Sessions Thread

[m schumy]

First practice starts at 10 a.m local time, looking forward to this weekend- Monza is one of the best tracks on the calendar :thumb

[m schumy]

Italy Preview - Monza make or break for Ferrari?

Monza, that wonderful cathedral of sport, could be the turning point of the world championship fight this weekend. Its long straights and the need for minimal downforce may militate against Red Bull, while Ferrari, fresh from no further penalties in their team orders hearing at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Wednesday, will decide their strategy for the rest of the season based on their performance here on their home ground.

"Formula One is a great show," says Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, who has recently lost significant ground to fellow title-contending team mate Mark Webber after making two serious mistakes. "If everything goes well, you are the greatest. If you make an error, and some people simply do not understand exactly the reasons why, then you very fast become the idiot. The most important thing, therefore, is that I know the truth myself.

"In Hungary I was asleep during the safety-car period and made an error. And in Spa, when I lost the car while overtaking Jenson Button, I make a mistake too. But I am open and honest enough to admit that. I'm not proud of it, but you cannot change anything other than try to make sure it doesn't happen again. In the end, the mistakes make you a better driver."

Having a clean weekend is essential for the young German if he is to sweep away accusations that the pressure of the title fight is beginning to tell.

Over at Ferrari, Felipe Massa says the pressure is also on the Prancing Horse with only six races remaining and a disappointing run last time out in Belgium. Fernando Alonso believes the team have cured the problems that afflicted them at Spa, but Massa says: “It will be a great event, racing in front of our tifosi, but the reality is that it will be a very important race because after the less than satisfactory performance in Belgium, the championship is not looking so easy for us.

"We need to keep pushing for the last six races, trying to be back in the fight for wins or at least as many podiums as possible. For sure it won't be easy. Looking back to the Belgian Grand Prix, I started sixth and finished fourth, so at a certain level, I could say that I had a good race. However, in terms of the result and in terms of the championship and the points total for Ferrari, it was not enough.”

Meanwhile, McLaren are determined to make hay while the sun shines on them, as they did at Spa. Both circuits suit the character of the MP4-25 perfectly, and this may be their best chance during the remainder of the season to score another dominant victory. Like all teams which have them, they are playing their cards close to their chest on the subject of whether to use the drag-reducing F-duct, but they are the most likely to because the system is integral and cannot be easily removed the way that Red Bull’s, Ferrari’s and Renault’s can.

McLaren also admit that the new, more stringent, tests on floor deflection have posed some interesting challenges, but that ultimately they have had the effect of a performance upgrade.

"We haven't had to make any modifications to front wings in terms of bodywork flexibility," says chief engineer Tim Goss. "As far as the 'bib' is concerned, the new off-set load test is challenging and we've had to make minor modifications just to make sure that we're well inside the deflection limits that the FIA are going to set on that. We've modified our bib, and we've taken the opportunity to roll it up into a minor performance upgrade."

Goss expects that many teams will have had to make modifications to meet the rule upgrade. "I think as far as the off-set bib test is concerned, I would expect most teams would probably have had to make changes to comply with that.”

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton is out to add Monza to his wish list of classic circuits on which he wants to win, but victory here is also crucial to team mate Jenson Button to keep himself in the title fight.

“Obviously, my non-finish in Spa wasn’t ideal for my championship aspirations,” the reigning world champion says, “so I head to Monza determined to put myself back in the hunt for the title.

“Our pace over the whole weekend in Belgium was extremely encouraging - we’re developing the car at a very rapid rate, and we’re learning more about it all the time, so I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to maintain that form this weekend. We still have some work to do to make sure the package we bring to Italy is perfectly suited to the track, but I’m confident that our engineers have made some good steps forward with their understanding of our car, so we should be in good shape.

“I love racing at Monza - it’s a totally unique experience; running minimal downforce at incredible speeds along the straights, and then coping with the lack of grip, and an extremely skittish car, through the low-speed stuff. Given the competitiveness at the front of the field, this could be an intense, thrilling Grand Prix.”

As Robert Kubica at Renault hopes to maintain the upswing in performance evident at Spa, Michael Schumacher says he expects Mercedes to struggle here.

"Spa was quite an entertaining race weekend which I like to look back on as we achieved a reasonable result considering the circumstances. The next race in Monza might well be entertaining in a very different way as I expect it to be a real challenge for our team. We have seen already several times this year that circuits with characteristics like those of Monza do not really play in our hands.”

Force India will once again run third driver Paul di Resta during Friday’s morning practice, with the young Scottish hopeful set to replace Adrian Sutil in the VJM03. Meanwhile, Toro Rosso could introduce an F-duct to their car, after a positive straight-line aero test for driver Sebastien Buemi at the Italian track of Vairano on Monday.

Bridgestone will bring their hard and soft compounds to the Italian Grand Prix. The 5.793-kilometre (3.599 mile) Monza circuit is largely unchanged, apart from the kerbs in the two chicanes which now have ramped concrete sections to minimise the chances of errant cars becoming airborne.


Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2010/9/11223.html

[F1ferrarifanUSA]

Links Links

[Sempre_Ferrari]

Links Links

Live commentary - http://live.autosport.com/
Live Timing - http://www.formula1.com/live_timing/live_timing.html

Not too sure about live feed as I don't use it but I'm sure someone will post links to that shortly ;-)

[NJB13]

Links Links

Its at the botton at the bottom, under I mean, thanks Sempre_Ferrari :-)

[Tech_Skill]

Will be interesting to see the level of support Alonso gets from the Tifosi.

[NJB13]

Will be interesting to see the level of support Alonso gets from the Tifosi.

Just a wild stab in the dark - Lots!

[LAROSA SpA]

any live streaming?

[vcs316]

]Bridgestone has brought the soft and hard tyre compounds to Monza this weekend. Both should suit the high-speed nature of of circuit very well in warm temperatures.

• Force India has spent a lot of time optimising the blown diffuser at its Silverstone base since arriving back from Spa. The team also conducted a successful aero test. Paul di Resta will drive in practice today to help Sutil and Liuzzi.

• Three-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi joins the FIA strewards panel this weekend to help enforce the rules from a driver's perspective. The Brazilian last joined the panel at the Candian Grand Prix in June.

• A small yet important change to the circuit this year surrounds the chicanes. The areas behind the apex kerbs at the Retefilo and Roggia have been laid with a ramped concrete section to ensure that the chances of a car becoming airborne are minimised.

[Ant Raikkonen]

:-) Time for FP1. I can't wait to see the first TV shot. I adore Monza and it's lovely to watch the action there and be in support of Ferrari. :love It's the ultimate.

:ferrarifl

[Tech_Skill]

Just a wild stab in the dark - Lots!

Obviously but imo the support from the tifosi hasnt been the same since Schumacher days, when he was drving the air horns would go absolutley insane, i dont remember the same for raikonnen or massa, so maybe thats me, will be interesting to see the response to Alonso this weekend.

[Mitra]

http://www.firstrow.net/watch/26708/1/watch-formula-1-italian-grand-prix-[practice-1].html

still looking for an english stream

[vcs316]

Any live streaming links?

[m schumy]

Live streaming: http://www.firstrow.net/watch/26708/1/watch-formula-1-italian-grand-prix-%5Bpractice-1%5D.html
http://eplsite.com/stream1.html

[Ste]

What is with McLaren's rear wing? It's huuuge!

[mad_ani]

http://eplsite.com/stream1.html

F duct on for Mclaren....

[Tech_Skill]

What is with McLaren's rear wing? It's huuuge!

Anything happening with our car this weekend, I actually feel a little sick, would be horrible to get our asses kicked at home by Mclaren, but thats looking likely eh?

Ps. I hope the tifosi still back michael a little, would be nice, I think he will make some kind of gesture to them after sunday.

[bkircher]

Mc cant possibly think their Fduct will give them that much of an advantage... I hope they keep it and it wont work for them and they fail!!!!!!!!!

[Raz]

alanbaldwinf1

Quite a few fans in the grandstand for a Friday morning. There is a banner up saying 'Michael we always wish you well" in Italian.
from twitter

[gvsnraju85]

any english link???

[Ste]

Flo-Vis for the Red Bull boys!

[vcs316]

McLaren is clearly planning to see if it can find overall pace here by running a lot more rear downforce than normal here, with the drag reduced by the F-duct on the straights.
Hamilton continues on to a second tour, with his McLaren fitted with a considerable level of rear wing downforce.

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monza: "Fernando Alonso was exchanging cheeky grins with McLaren's Jenson Button as they sat together on the front row of the media conference in Monza but the grin soon faded when the Ferrari driver had to field questions about his personal reaction to the FIA's decision not to punish the Italian team further for using banned team orders. Alonso and Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa both repeated the party line that the incident was in the past and they preferred to focus on this weekend's home grand prix. But after half an hour of batting away the media's best efforts, Alonso cracked and with another a rather ironic grin said: 'I'm sure you are talking about the decision… you have to respect it and be calm. Respect everything as we do and don't worry.'"

BBC pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz: "Have you seen the size of the McLaren rear wing? It's like a barn door." :lol

[Raz]

Flo-Vis for the Red Bull boys!

like a whole can worth hehe

[m schumy]

from twitter
alanbaldwinf1

Quite a few fans in the grandstand for a Friday morning. There is a banner up saying 'Michael we always wish you well" in Italian.

Awesome :thumb

[Stormsearcher]

Am in a remote location in rural india. Gonna miss all three free practice sessions and the Qualifying.

But i hope our boys go and rock the joint... errr i mean track. :-)

GO FERRARI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... :-bounce

[vcs316]

Flo-Vis for the Red Bull boys!

lol, was gonna post the same!

[LAROSA SpA]

Was wondering why the Red Bull was yellow, there using that airflow paint

[m schumy]

Hispania's Karun Chandhok on the Red Button: "Monza is an amazing circuit. It's a special place and is up there in the top-four circuits."

[vcs316]

Will be watching Force India with lots of interest this weekend..

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos: "Michael Schumacher has already said he expects to struggle. He feels that certain circuits, like Monza, do not play into the hands of Mercedes."

[LAROSA SpA]

BBC stream http://www.freedocast.com/os90odp

And as soon as you guys click on it'll fail :lol

[Ste]

Listen to Titmarsh moaning about Ferrari not being punished! :roll

[Raz]

Listen to Titmarsh moaning about Ferrari not being punished! :roll

what did ted mean by half pregnant?

[LAROSA SpA]

Listen to Titmarsh moaning about Ferrari not being punished! :roll

Tell me about it :roll

[m schumy]

Monza weather forecast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/weather/ianfergusson/2010/09/formula-one-weather-forecast-i.shtml

[LAROSA SpA]

For once Frank is on our side

[Sempre_Ferrari]

Listen to Titmarsh moaning about Ferrari not being punished! http://www.thescuderia.net/images/smilies/rolleye.gif

what is he saying....is he calling the pot black?....lol

[gvsnraju85]

Am in a remote location in rural india. Gonna miss all three free practice sessions and the Qualifying.

But i hope our boys go and rock the joint... errr i mean track. :-)

GO FERRARI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... :-bounce


Where exactly are you in India???? See I am indian......so just curious!!!

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Andrew Benson at Monza: "It's a lovely morning here. The golden autumn sunshine is streaming through the trees of the old Royal Park and the famous tifosi are already out in force, expecting great things of their favourite team. The pressure is always high on Ferrari to do well at their home race, but this weekend it is more intense than I can remember for years. Fernando Alonso slipped further behind in the championship with his poor weekend in Belgium two weeks ago and he knows he has to score well here. After escaping further punishment over the team orders incident in Germany, they have arrived here admitting it is a critical race for them. Alonso has already made a number of uncharacteristic mistakes this season. How will he respond here this weekend?"

[Ste]

what did ted mean by half pregnant?

Well you can't be half pregnant. You either are or you aren't.

Essentially, he's saying you're guilty, or your not guilty. So he doesn't understand how the FIA says tehy broke the rules, yet they've not been punished.

[m schumy]

Lotus driver Heikki Kovalainen on Twitter: "Not a great start this morning, did the installation lap and hydraulics failed again... maybe get out at the end of the session."

[Sianellen]

bored of hearing about the team orders row :-(

[Hermann]

Well you can't be half pregnant. You either are or you aren't.

Essentially, he's saying you're guilty, or your not guilty. So he doesn't understand how the FIA says tehy broke the rules, yet they've not been punished.

He should be able to understand that easily had he read the transcript. McLaren was one of the examples Ferrari brought to demonstrate that team orders have gone unpunished several times in the past, including Hockenheim 2008. So it was a two-edged sword for the WMSC and to do actually nothing was the easiest way for them to get out of the mess.

[Ant Raikkonen]

Well you can't be half pregnant. You either are or you aren't.


Are you sure? I mean, i'm not a doctor so i don't know.

[Raz]

Are you sure? I mean, i'm not a doctor so i don't know.

:rotfl

[m schumy]

bored of hearing about the team orders row :-(

I`m getting bored of that discussion too.....it`s starting to be similar to the endless discussions in football such as "was is or wasn`t that a penalty" debates ;-)

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Sarah Holt on Twitter: "Could be a bit of a headache for McLaren. Their F-duct isn't likely to work as well in combination with a flatter Monza-spec rear wing."

[Ste]

Red Bull wing still flexing like an absolute BEAST! :lol

[Ste]

Barrichello stopped on track! Just after the second Lesmo.

[LAROSA SpA]

Looks like a hydraulic problem.
But I might be wrong

[m schumy]

0944: Mercedes tell Nico Rosberg that he should come in to change his brakes now if he doesn't really like them. Rubens Barrichello's Williams has stopped coming out of the Lesmo corners and there is a brief yellow flag. BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos says Toro Rosso have introduced their version of the 'F-duct' aerodynamic device but only Sebastien Buemi has it on at the moment. Samos says the team "probably will not use it in the race".

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz says Bruno Senna has a brake problem which is why he has missed the first 50 minutes of the session.

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Andrew Benson at Monza: "Scotland's Paul di Resta is back in his testing role for Force India in first practice this morning after missing out in Spa and is going well, mixing it with the Red Bulls, McLarens and Ferraris at the sharp end. Force India are fancied to do very well this weekend - one engineer said on Thursday that he expected them to be second fastest behind McLaren."

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Andrew Benson at Monza: "The talk in the paddock this weekend has been dominated by the Ferrari team orders hearing. Governing body the FIA released the full verdict on Thursday and it contains some interesting snippets of information. Among them are that Ferrari were not punished further because there had been other incidents of teams orders that had passed with censure before; that Ferrari viewed it as 'team tactics', not team orders, because Felipe Massa was never explicitly ordered to let Fernando Alonso pass; that Williams and Sauber had both written letters supporting Ferrari to the FIA; that Massa was given the message that Alonso was faster than him no less than four times before he finally let him by; and that Alonso was on an engine setting that gave him more power in the laps immediately preceding the incident."

[m schumy]

BBC commentator Jonathan Legard: "I spoke to Vitaly Petrov in Monza and he told me he keeps a written record of all his races in a book which he then uses as preparation for every weekend. The Russian makes notes on weather, set-up, the kerbs, different racing lines and any little tricks he has found help him to get the performance from each circuit. Petrov insists he will be driving in Formula 1 next season, though he didn't say for which team. Force India's Adrian Sutil and Lotus driver Heikki Kovalainen have both been linked to Renault."

[Stormsearcher]

Where exactly are you in India???? See I am indian......so just curious!!!

Am teaching a bunch of kids in a small town 30kms off coimbatore in Tamilnadu. :-) where u at?
Luckily the internet here is working, thou am pretty sure it cant handle live streaming of the practice sessions.

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monza: "Lewis Hamilton was in a super-relaxed mood as he discussed his chances of a second world title with the media in Monza. The 25-year-old won the 2008 title by a single point after losing the 2007 crown by the same margin and he says he is drawing on both those experiences as he aims to protect his three-point cushion this weekend. 'I've been to both ends of the spectrum and I've learnt from those different situations,' said Hamilton, who wore a dazzling diamond ring on his right hand. 'I feel I'm a much more solid driver than I was in 2007 and 2008; I've made a lot of mistakes but I've grown a lot too. For me, the gap [at the top of the championship] is nothing and I need to get as many points as I can. I've not been in this position before, where so many drivers have been in the hunt. It's a world championship, the most intense competition I've ever experienced, and I love it.'"

[racingbradley]

[B]; that Williams and Sauber had both written letters supporting Ferrari to the FIA

Now that is one for the books. Frank Williams offering Ferrari his support. :roll

[Hermann]

InsideFerrari

They are 7th and 8th. Still not too happy with the grip

Not good- come on guys :pray

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos says Mercedes are not very happy this morning. Their drivers of Rosberg and Schumacher are fifth and 11th at the moment. BBC pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz adds: "I spoke to Rosberg on Thursday and he had a mini rant that it was so disappointing this season for Mercedes that the development had not come through and had not worked as promised."

[Stormsearcher]

Am not too worried. Remember in SPA we dominated both FP sessions on friday and then got hammered in the race. So i dont care what happens in FP now. Just the quali and race matter. Hope we do well there. Dats all. :-)

[Ferrari_Fanatic]

is going on?? i thought they sorted the SPA problems out

[Kyss4k]

I have a bad bad feeling. We need a miracle here. :pray

[Sempre_Ferrari]

is going on?? i thought they sorted the SPA problems out

This is just FP1....I wouldn't be too concerned right now. Ferrari are known not to showboat in FP1 like macca and rb and besides...judging by Spa FP being quick now does not equate to being quick in qualy or race..just my 2cents worth ;-)

[Fiondella]

Listen to Titmarsh moaning about Ferrari not being punished! :roll

sh
itmarsh:lol
.8 off the pace not good at all

[racingbradley]

Far too early to worry. Fingers crossed we will do a few tweaks and all will be rosy red this afternoon or to-morrow in quali will do :-)

[m schumy]

Free Practice 1 Results

http://i56.tinypic.com/2efjds5.jpg

[gvsnraju85]

Am teaching a bunch of kids in a small town 30kms off coimbatore in Tamilnadu. :-) where u at?
Luckily the internet here is working, thou am pretty sure it cant handle live streaming of the practice sessions.

I live at bangalore........karnataka........so just an overnite journey :)..........good to hear you are teaching kids........and since when are you here & how long are you going to stay in India??

[Hermann]

No grip- this is not good. No grip in Monza means fighting with Force India. *sigh* Monza is my favourite race because i just like that track, but if we don't find some more speed...

[Rishu]

I live at bangalore........karnataka........so just an overnite journey :)..........good to hear you are teaching kids........and since when are you here & how long are you going to stay in India??

Guys, lets meet up at Indian GP :-)
& lets not bore other members here on this thread ;-)

[Stormsearcher]

Guys, lets meet up at Indian GP :-)
& lets not bore other members here on this thread ;-)

Done. Game on both counts. ;-)

[gvsnraju85]

Guys, lets meet up at Indian GP :-)
& lets not bore other members here on this thread ;-)

Even i was thinking on similar lines especially after seeing the philippines thread for this weekend.......i want to be at the GP in Delhi rather than at some random place in south tough......;)

[Ant Raikkonen]

7th & 8th..... 3 quarters of a second off the pace. I don't feel too worried, or surprised really.
Let's see how 2nd practice goes, bearing in mind that Ferrari's strategy nomally shows more pace in FP2 than FP1 doesn't it.

[Ferrari_Fanatic]

No grip- this is not good. No grip in Monza means fighting with Force India. *sigh* Monza is my favourite race because i just like that track, but if we don't find some more speed...

no grip what was the point in investing money into the blown defuser if we haven't gained redbull like grip?

[killer]

7th & 8th..... 3 quarters of a second off the pace. I don't feel too worried, or surprised really.
Let's see how 2nd practice goes, bearing in mind that Ferrari's strategy nomally shows more pace in FP2 than FP1 doesn't it.

Agreed. FP1 was possibly, as usual, a general set up session.

[brembo man]

Patience! Vetell will take out the McLarens as soon as he can.

[NJB13]

Patience! Vetell will take out the McLarens as soon as he can.

Hope he saves it for Sunday.
Someone should teach him about a "cannon shot" from billiards, see if he can take both McMowers out, I think he needs a new challenge

[Ferrari_Fanatic]

Patience! Vetell will take out the McLarens as soon as he can.

:lol:roll hurry up vettel its ramiltons turn now

[Naeem]

Hope he saves it for Sunday.
Someone should teach him about a "cannon shot" from billiards, see if he can take both McMowers out, I think he needs a new challenge


I think we're forgetting, Reubens is more than adequate at performing "kisses" and hell, webber is perfectly good at 'chip' shots (think back to an overtake in valencia on kovalainen)

[Ant Raikkonen]

:lol:roll hurry up vettel its ramiltons turn now

:lol @ your signature Ferrari Fanatic. Classic Kimi :-D

[FerrariF60]

any new links that work for FP2??

[LAROSA SpA]

any new links that work for FP2??

try this http://www.iraqgoals.net/12772-italian-grand-pix-practice-session-2.html

[m schumy]

Live streaming: http://www.firstrow.net/watch/26709/1/watch-formula-1-italian-grand-prix-%5Bpractice-2%5D.html

[FerrariF60]

try this http://www.iraqgoals.net/12772-italian-grand-pix-practice-session-2.html

thanks

[Mitra]

http://eplsite.com/stream1.html

BBC

[Ste]

That Mercedes is just awful It's understeering like a cross channel ferry.

Schumacher understeered a lot in the Parabolica, then had major understeer in Ascari and then the same again in Parabolica which caused him to go into the gravel trap.

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos: "This morning, Rubens Barrichello stopped on track with input-shaft failure - apparently this is a Williams part, not a Cosworth one. Renault say their 'F-duct' [aero device] was delivering what was expected this morning and it will stay on for this session."

[m schumy]

http://eplsite.com/stream1.html

BBC

Thanks :thumb

[FerrariF60]

jesus, those Mcmowers are fast...more then 7 tenths faster then Alonso

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos: "Force India [expected to be very quick at Monza] are still trying to work out whether the 'F-duct' rear wing spec or regular Monza rear wing spec are better."

[killer]

Is it just me or is almost everyone really pushing it into Lesmo 1?

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos: "McLaren are taking the 'F-duct' off Hamilton's car and are keeping it on Jenson Button's for a comparison."

[Kyss4k]

BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos: "McLaren are taking the 'F-duct' off Hamilton's car and are keeping it on Jenson Button's for a comparison."

Well and even without F-duct is Lewis quicker than us. :-E

[Ste]

McLaren much quicker without the F-Duct and their lower downforce package.

He's about 4 tenths up on JB's P1 time so far this lap.

Comes over the line and goes quickest by 0.142. Lost out in S3 a bit.

[vcs316]

Button is also on track in his high-downforce car and improves to under a tenth off Hamilton's best.

This will leave McLaren with a tricky choice to make this evening on which car configuration to take into the race.

Hamilton is the fastest man through the first sector as he takes the top time away from his team-mate with a 1m23.154s.

[m schumy]

Hamilton is told by his team that his pace is "very good", and so it is - he sets the fastest time of the session, a 1:23.154. As to whether McLaren will run with or without the 'F-duct' aero device for the race, BBC F1 analyst Maurice Hamilton suggests Hamilton and Button may stick with what they have.

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Andrew Benson at Monza: "Well, I've had a very interesting lunchtime at Monza picking up bits and pieces of gossip and news. So interesting, I'm a bit worried I may have overdone the sun on the old bonce. Anyway, I hope to bring you some of the more juicy bits of info later in the weekend after I've done a bit more research. For now, I can tell you that Red Bull were encouraged by their pace in first practice, when Sebastian Vettel was just 0.027secs off pace-setter Jenson Button. They are in better competitive shape than they thought they were."

[Hermann]

RB's will turn on the turbo in Q3 as always, and the McLarens are faster than us, so we will have 4 cars in front if nothing unusual happens. Maybe we are already trying things for 2011, i don't believe the team is still working full time for the title fight...

[Sempre_Ferrari]

Good to see Massa up there as well

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monza: "I've just had a close-up view of the cars tearing down the straight into the first corner. The cars can reach up 210mph before braking hard into the first corner and you really can hear the engines straining as the drivers put their feet down. There's a restaurant that sits along the straight, where the punters are looking totally unfazed as they drink wine and sample Italian nibbles with foam plugs wedged firmly into their ears. As fine as most Italian restaurants are, I imagine the table conversation there is not up to much."

;-)

[Ste]

Fernando is changing the rear wing and waiting to go out.

[Ste]

Lewis has broken the front right endplate of his front wing - probably from hitting a curb too hard.

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos: "Fernando Alonso is waiting in his car and Ferrari are doing a rear wing change. There is a comparison going on as well at Ferrari."

[NJB13]

Purple Sector 3 for Felipe - Woo Hoo

[Sempre_Ferrari]

Purple Sector 3 for Felipe - Woo Hoo

and again :-)

[NJB13]

Yeah Baby !!!!

[NJB13]

P1 Massa !!!!!!

[Sempre_Ferrari]

Whooo hooo...so we not that slow after all...p1 massa :clap

[racingbradley]

:-)Pretty good Felipe

[Ste]

There's our pace then!

Bam! P1. What were we worrying about? :-D

[tifosi_kaka]

Massa goes P1 but the BBC commentators say Massa is 329km/h past the speed trap while Lewis was 341km/h.

[Kyss4k]

But on Soft tyres, while McL did their times on hards...

[Tech_Skill]

LMAO, at BBC hoping that Ferrari are running on low fuel, the coverage is so biased its unreal, they nearly hung themselves when massa went p1.

[NJB13]

Not sure, but I think for Massa P1 he was .4 slower than Lewser in Sector-1. Did anyone catch if that's right?

[NJB13]

Massa goes P1 but the BBC commentators say Massa is 329km/h past the speed trap while Lewis was 341km/h.

Nice tow potential there :-)

[m schumy]

Well done Felipe :thumb

[Tech_Skill]

But on Soft tyres, while McL did their times on hards...

Hamilton and button couldnt get extra time out of the soft tires, they ran them before Ferrari did and the times were pretty much the same.

Ferrari changed wing, then went faster.

Massa nearly in the wall, was about to blitz P1.

[LAROSA SpA]

Damn that was close! :-E

[NJB13]

Scary moment for Felipe there

[LAROSA SpA]

Alonso P1 :clap

[NJB13]

Alonso P1 wooooo hooooo

[Tech_Skill]

Here comes Fernando....................

[Ste]

Felipe, so so close to the wall.

Alonso goes P1. Does a 1.22.915 with a purple S3.

Vettel goes even quicker by 0.076. Purple S2.

[NJB13]

Nice to have a P1 and P2 - at least for a few seconds

[Tech_Skill]

Now button is out again on the softs....

[Kyss4k]

Hamilton and button couldnt get extra time out of the soft tires, they ran them before Ferrari did and the times were pretty much the same.

Ferrari changed wing, then went faster.

If this is true, it's just gorgeous!!! :clap

[Ste]

Massa goes P1 but the BBC commentators say Massa is 329km/h past the speed trap while Lewis was 341km/h.

Hamilton had a similar straight line speed as Massa before he took off the F-Duct and the higher downforce package. Now he's got a much better straight line speed, but far less downforce.

Looks like Ferrari have gone with a good compromise.

[LAROSA SpA]

Are the McLarens on softs?
With my computer stream I cant tell

[racingbradley]

:-)Felipe that's not good for the heart. I noticed in the first sector massa was .2 or thereabouts slower than Lewis

[tifosi_kaka]

Hamilton had a similar straight line speed as Massa before he took off the F-Duct and the higher downforce package. Now he's got a much better straight line speed, but far less downforce.

Looks like Ferrari have gone with a good compromise.

That is great then thanks for clarifying

[NJB13]

No English commentary for me, whats up with Webber?

[Tech_Skill]

Are the McLarens on softs?
With my computer stream I cant tell

As far as im aware, Mclaren had the softs on BEFORE ferrari, both hamilton and button did not improve on time.

Button is out now on softs.

Ferrari changed rear wing, and then the times dropped, Red Bull also right in the mix now also.

Jenson on long runs now apparently....soft tires.

[LAROSA SpA]

No English commentary for me, whats up with Webber?

Use this BBC http://eplsite.com/stream1.html

No explanation yet for Webber's problem

[dfunk257]

I still think the macs have the upper hand here

[Red is Best]

http://www.vipstand.net/watch/4816/1/watch-italian-grand-prix---second-practice-session.html

English commentary. No idea why Webber stopped. I hope it is not the engine, or he'll receive a 10-place grid penalty.

[LAROSA SpA]

No English commentary for me, whats up with Webber?

Loss of water pressure for Webber

[Ste]

http://www.vipstand.net/watch/4816/1/watch-italian-grand-prix---second-practice-session.html

English commentary. No idea why Webber stopped. I hope it is not the engine, or he'll receive a 10-place grid penalty.
That would be good for us, no?

[NJB13]

Thanks for English channels
And lest hope Webbers problem, whatever it was, is a fundamental flaw and not easily fixed :-)

[Ste]

Senna has parked it for a 3rd time today. Sigh.

[LAROSA SpA]

That would be good for us, no?

Good for us, yes but he might be a Webber fan

[LAROSA SpA]

Thanks for English channels
And lest hope Webbers problem, whatever it was, is a fundamental flaw and not easily fixed :-)

:thumb

[NJB13]

http://www.vipstand.net/watch/4816/1/watch-italian-grand-prix---second-practice-session.html

English commentary. No idea why Webber stopped. I hope it is not the engine, or he'll receive a 10-place grid penalty.

Only if that was his last engine

[NJB13]

According to radio, it was water leak for Webber. It is a "Friday" engine.

[Red is Best]

No, because it would benefit Hamilton more than Alonso. And since I think Alonso is not gonna win the WDC, I'd much rather prefer to see the Aussie winning rather than the Pussycat Boy.

[Greig]

No, because it would benefit Hamilton more than Alonso. And since I think Alonso is not gonna win the WDC, I'd much rather prefer to see the Aussie wining rather than the Pussycat Boy.

What about Ferrari for the WCC :-)

[Hermann]

What about Ferrari for the WCC :-)

Which year?

[LAROSA SpA]

No, because it would benefit Hamilton more than Alonso. And since I think Alonso is not gonna win the WDC, I'd much rather prefer to see the Aussie wining rather than the Pussycat Boy.

I couldn't stand it if pretty boy one another championship, but I'm always going for a Ferrari win

[racingbradley]

Which year?

It's still possible.:-) We could still sneak both from under their noses. :-) no mad just an optimist!!!!!

[NJB13]

Which year?
:thumb
I'd love you to have to eat those words

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monza: "Mark Webber has a masterplan to make sure he is in good shape for his final championship push. The Red Bull driver will base himself in his Australian homeland for the trio of races in Singapore, Japan and Korea which follow this weekend's Italian race. There's only one problem his plan... 'I'll have to get a house in Australia,' explained Webber, who has homes in Buckinghamshire and France, but not in the land of his birth. Webber views the Italian Grand Prix as a damage-limitation exercise, but the coming circuits should swing the performance pendulum back in Red Bull's favour. But the 34-year-old, who is three points behind leader Lewis Hamilton, insists he is not the title favourite: 'I don't consider myself the favourite. I've got quite a few points but not as many as Lewis. We know he's achieved some exceptional things in F1 in such a short time. He's a great competitor and a great rival - and we're not in Abu Dhabi yet.'"

[FerrariF60]

Which year?

not this year that's for sure...
hopefully next year

[Hermann]

:thumb
I'd love you to have to eat those words

Me too. :wave

[Red is Best]

What about Ferrari for the WCC :-)

Not likely to happen IMO.


I couldn't stand it if pretty boy one another championship, but I'm always going for a Ferrari win

Me too but I must say I don't believe in our chances after what happened in Belgium, though I hope Fernando is going to prove me wrong this WE.

[NJB13]

Satisfying Friday.

[Stormsearcher]

Ok. not too bad. Second and third in FP2. I think we can safely assume that the McCheaters are sandbagging. What is disturbing is that the bulls are top of the chart and this is supposed to be their damage limitation track. I hope we have something more come sat and sun, otherwise this might be another difficult and painful weekend.

[Red is Best]

Looks like Ferrari were sandbagging during FP1.
Thank God Felipe avoided the barrier when he went wide at the Parabolica! I thought he crashed before I saw him entering the pits. That would have been a massive crash.

[m schumy]

Free Practice 2 Results

http://i52.tinypic.com/2l902e0.jpg

[m schumy]

BBC F1 analyst Maurice Hamilton: "Vettel surprised me, that lap time is competitive. But knowing McLaren and the way they have been experimenting, they might have a little bit more in hand. It is very close, though, and I would not like to put any money on who will claim pole tomorrow."

[theforce]

good save by Felipe. IMO pole tomorrow is likely to be between vettle, alonso and lewis unless massa and webber pull something special. Would make by weekend if both ferrari's end up on the podium!:-D

[Lithium]

P1&P2 Ferrari, c'mon you can do it! :wave

[Red is Best]

FP1&2 pictures. The blog is rubbish but the pictures are great.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2010/09/10/italian-grand-prix-practice-in-pictures/

[Ferrari_Fanatic]

:lol @ your signature Ferrari Fanatic. Classic Kimi :-D

yep :roll i was going to put his other classic "i was taking a s***!" :rotfl

[shrayyef]

Sebastian Vettel turned the tables on McLaren at Monza on Friday afternoon by setting the fastest time so far of 1m 22.839s, but the Red Bull driver was only 0.076s faster than Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and 0.222s ahead of Felipe Massa in the second F10. Soon after Massa had gone fastest with 1m 23.061s he was deposed by Alonso with 1m 22.915s, before Vettel displaced both.

That left the McLarens, which had set the initial pace in the hour and a half-long session, in fourth and fifth places. Lewis Hamilton lapped his MP4-25 in 1m 23.154s to Jenson Button’s 1m 23.210s. Mark Webber was close to them with 1m 23.415s before his Red Bull rolled to a halt in the Lesmos with mechanical problems.

Rubens Barrichello got going well to set seventh fastest time for Williams after his problems this morning, lapping in 1m 23.708s to pip Robert Kubica’s Renault by a thousandth of a second. Williams’ Nico Hulkenberg was right with them on 1m 23.852s, and Mercedes GP’s Nico Rosberg was little slower on 1m 23.857s.

Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi were evenly matched in their Force Indias, with 1m 24.181s and 1m 24.380s respectively, ahead of Vitaly Petrov on 1m 24.407s for Renault, Michael Schumacher on 1m 24.448s for Mercedes, Sebastien Buemi on 1m 25.517s for Toro Rosso, and Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi on 1m 24.547s and 1m 24.785s for BMW Sauber.

http://motorsarena.co.cc/Formula1_pages/Sept/10-Practice%20Two%20-%20Vettel%20to%20the%20fore%20in%20Italy.html

[f300v10]

Did Ferrari try running with a non F-duct wing? All the photos I have found show a new smaller version of the F-duct wing.

[Alonsomaniac]

Man, we are so close to the top but I still have the feeling there is just not quite enough in the car........must be frustrating for Fernando and Felipe.
But I hope I'm wrong and that it's going to be a big red party on Sunday.

[f300v10]

Did Ferrari try running with a non F-duct wing? All the photos I have found show a new smaller version of the F-duct wing.

Answering my own question, Ferrari ran 2 different rear wings, both featuring the F-Duct. The smaller of the two was used when both drivers set their quickest times. The larger wing looked similar to the one used by Massa in Spa, with a slightly smaller second element. My guess is both drivers will go with the smaller of the two wings.

I am very surprised by the difference in the wings used my McLaren. Buttons F-Duct wing is simply HUGE for Monza (as is the Renualt wing), while the non F-Duct used my Hamilton was the traditional small Monza speck wing. They did not seem to take the 'smaller wing with F-Duct' approach used by both Ferrari and Red Bull.

[f300v10]

Man, we are so close to the top but I still have the feeling there is just not quite enough in the car........

Agreed. I get the feeling McLaren didn't show their full speed at the end of the second session. We seem very close to Red Bull, but McLaren may well have the edge this weekend. I would love to be proven wrong as well. Go Ferrari!

[siberianlady]

I hope so too- but weren't we fastest in practice Friday in Spa only to experience huge disappointment? Yeah we looked ok today but I fear the worst again............

[brembo man]

I think we're forgetting, Reubens is more than adequate at performing "kisses" and hell, )

I guess if he crashed into the wall passing the Chin, or took both cars out, it would be Rubens bad, not Vetells idol. Rubens said he never looked at the wall , just clearing the other car, he knew he could get by at that very moment. The Chin was driving at his very best, and so was Rubens. Just imagine Shummy Jr. in that spot at that moment!

[WRX202]

I guess if he crashed into the wall passing the Chin, or took both cars out, it would be Rubens bad, not Vetells idol. Rubens said he never looked at the wall , just clearing the other car, he knew he could get by at that very moment. The Chin was driving at his very best, and so was Rubens. Just imagine Shummy Jr. in that spot at that moment!

Well the last car "whine-icello" crashed into was a Ferrari, the old pensioner just cannot forgive Ferrari :-D. The poor whiner has enough on his hands already after that Williams declared they back the return of team orders :lol

Back to our boys, fingers crossed for qualifying, I hope we have a few more tenths under our belt.

[vcs316]

No, because it would benefit Hamilton more than Alonso. And since I think Alonso is not gonna win the WDC, I'd much rather prefer to see the Aussie winning rather than the Pussycat Boy.

:rotfl :rotfl Pussycat Boy

[Ste]

Coverage staring on the red button in 1 minute and FP3 begins in 6 minutes.

Everyone ready to see the real pace of the field?

[vcs316]

Macca work for today:


Championship leader Lewis Hamilton will continue working with the low-downforce McLaren this morning, while team-mate Jenson Button evaluates his MP4-25 with a sizable rear wing for downforce through the corners and the F-duct to help reduce drag down the long straights.

The split strategy programme began yesterday afternoon when Hamilton completed the second practice session without the F-duct and the team has still not reached a conclusion on which approach is best for the remainder of the weekend.

"If you look at the P2, the odd situation was that it was amazingly close between the two choices despite a huge difference in downforce for the different settings," said team principal Martin Whitmarsh. "We will look at it again in FP3 and then decide what we will do for qualifying."

[vcs316]

Coverage staring on the red button in 1 minute and FP3 begins in 6 minutes.

Everyone ready to see the real pace of the field?

Am ready for a Ferrari 1-2 this weekend!

[Ste]

Am ready for a Ferrari 1-2 this weekend!

Me too mate, me too. Fingers crossed!

[m schumy]

Live streaming: http://www.firstrow.net/watch/26821/1/watch-formula-1-italian-grand-prix-%5Bpractice-3%5D.html

[vcs316]

Me too mate, me too. Fingers crossed!

:pray :pray :ferrarifl :pray :pray

[m schumy]

BBC F1 commentator Jonathan Legard on Twitter: "F-duct for Renault and Sauber but Force India not running it. McLaren considering split strategy. F-duct for Button, not for Hamilton."

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Holly Samos says Mercedes had some issues to sort out overnight and that they are hopeful of a 'reasonable' grid position.

[Ste]

Red Bull still using their flo-vis paint on the rear of the car.

Luca Di Montezemolo has arrived, big crowd around him!

[vcs316]

BBC F1 commentator Jonathan Legard on Twitter: "F-duct for Renault and Sauber but Force India not running it. McLaren considering split strategy. F-duct for Button, not for Hamilton."

It is F - duct for Hamilton

High downforce package for Button

[gvsnraju85]

any english links please??

[vcs316]

any english links please??

http://eplsite.com/stream1.html

[gvsnraju85]

http://eplsite.com/stream1.html

Thanks mate
:thumb

[vcs316]

Felipe Massa has climbed out of his Ferrari for a chat with race engineer Rob Smedley as the wait for action continues.

[Ste]

It is F - duct for Hamilton

High downforce package for Button

No, Hamilton isn't running the F-Duct. That's part of their higher downforce package because it allows them to reduce the drag of the huge wing on the straight.

Hamilton doesn't need the F-Duct because he's running a skinny rear wing.

:-)

[NJB13]

Shumi goes P1 - that brings back some memories :-)

[m schumy]

BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monza: "McLaren are still undecided about which aerodynamic package to run in qualifying. The team will use third practice to make a final comparison ahead of qualifying at 1300 BST. Lewis Hamilton will abandon the F-duct and run with a conventional set-up to suit Monza's low-downforce track. The F-duct normally improves straight-line speed but at Monza it is helping to improve cornering speed while the flatter, Monza-spec wing actually makes the car quicker on the straights. The boffins at McLaren HQ are trying to figure out which level of wing will work well in both qualifying AND on full tanks of fuel during the race. The good news is that Hamilton and Button say both packages are close in terms of performance. But it's a complicated choice because you cannot afford to be slow on the straight in Monza, or you will be a sitting duck in the race."

[m schumy]

Shumi goes P1 - that brings back some memories :-)

Yeah :thumb

[Ste]

Ferrari garage is 'the only place that's calm'. Various Italian VIP's and Luca DiM down there. Neither driver in the car, standing at the back of the garage. Ferrari gone for lower downforce than yesterday. Going for as many points as possible. Changing the engine cover on Alonso and Massa's car.

[NJB13]

Ferrari garage is 'the only place that's calm'. Various Italian VIP's and Luca DiM down there. Neither driver in the car, standing at the back of the garage. Ferrari gone for lower downforce than yesterday. Going for as many points as possible. Changing the engine cover on Alonso and Massa's car.

Loved the comment about them (the crowd around LDM) all looking important but not knowing who any of them were.

[vcs316]

No, Hamilton isn't running the F-Duct. That's part of their higher downforce package because it allows them to reduce the drag of the huge wing on the straight.

Hamilton doesn't need the F-Duct because he's running a skinny rear wing.

:-)

Ahhh, I believed it was the other way round. Thanks for clearing that up mate :-)

[Hermann]

So we have a new egnine for this race- the 8th.


InsideFerrari

No worries for the engine, it is just a strategical decision. If there is a place where a new fresh unit can give some help this is Monza

[m schumy]

BBC F1 commentator Jonathan Legard on Twitter: "New engines today for all drivers except Webber, Barrichello and De La Rosa. 75 % of lap full throttle at Monza."

[NJB13]

Purple Sector1 for Buemi :-E

[Ste]

Purple Sector1 for Buemi :-E

Yea the Toro Rosso's were quick in a straight line yesterday and they are again today. Alguersuari doing 347 km/h with Buemi doing 342.

[Ste]

It would be amazing to do an overlay with the Red Bull through Parabolica and Schumacher's Mercedes. The difference would be pretty incredible.

[vcs316]

Alonso now emerges from the Ferrari garage and it will be interesting to see how his times compare with the McLaren and Red Bull efforts.

[m schumy]

BBC pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie: "If you are looking for a few pointers about who might appear in F1 next year then there is no better place than the GP2 paddock. The 2008 F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg and Lotus driver Heikki Kovalainen all graduated from the GP2 ranks. I headed down to the GP2 paddock to talk to Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who leads this year's championship and he says he and his manager Nicholas Todt - who also manages Ferrari driver Felipe Massa - have been speaking to some F1 teams with a view to 2011. I also interviewed my friend Sergio Perez, who is also challenging for the title. The Mexican driver says while seats are very limited, he still hopes to be in F1 next season and that discussions are progressing well. Perez has been linked to a Sauber seat for next season. You can see more in the BBC show before qualifying, which begins at 1210 BST."

Hispania driver Karun Chandok on the Red Button: "The track temperature started at 16C and it has now crept up to 19C but that's still a long way short of yesterday's second practice. The teams and drivers need to be careful because the set-up that works this morning may not work this afternoon when the track temperature could be double."

[Ste]

Alonso's 2nd flying lap:

S1 is roughly in line with Mclaren, S2 we matched them, S3 we lost 4 tenths of a second.

Massa was .2 down in all 3 sectors. Time will come I think. Alonso quicker than the McLaren's on thi lap, Massa purple in S1. Alonso held up by one of the Renault's.

Alonso still goes P3 just 7 hundredths down.

Massa OFF. Close to the wall again. Second Lesmo. Very reminiscent of his near escape yesterday.

[NJB13]

Felipe :-( that was gonna be a really fast lap

[vcs316]

Massa into the gravel, no damage done

[m schumy]

1031: Look sharp, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is in the team garage having a look around and meeting the troops. Do you think anyone has the guts to say: 'Mr Luca sir, could we do this a little later, we've got some work to do.'? No, I wouldn't either. Hispania driver Karun Chandhok says: "This is a huge weekend for Ferrari, it is impossible to compare what Ferrari means to Italy."

[Ste]

1. Button - 1.22.858
2. Hamilton (+0.096)
3. Vettel (+0.144)
4. Alonso (+0.171)
5. Webber (+0.224)

[Ste]

Hamilton has his lap destroyed by Liuzzi :lol

[vcs316]

Massa P2 !!!!

[Ste]

Great lap from Massa, goes P2, 0.076 behind Button in P1. Quicker than Button in S1, PB in S2 and S3

Hamilton blitzing S1 with his low downforce package, does a 27 flat.

Button goes quicker in P1.

Webber has STOPPED ON TRACK on the exit of the first chicane.

[NJB13]

Felipe is definitely pumped for this race - that is great to see. Closest I've seen to the pre-crash Felipe demeanor

[vcs316]

Webber's stopped on track!

[NJB13]

Another stop for Webber - water again?

[LAROSA SpA]

Webber stopped on track

[NJB13]

Purple Sector-1 for Rosberg

[Ste]

Webber's engine went off. Lost power.

Red Bull team orders to bring Vettel back into it - fiddled with Mark's electronics. :-D

[LAROSA SpA]

Felipe is definitely pumped for this race - that is great to see. Closest I've seen to the pre-crash Felipe demeanor

Have to agree with you Felipe is pushing looks like he has confidence & it's good to see :-D

[NJB13]

Felipe into the 22's - its so great seeing Felipe at the pointy end

[NJB13]

Monza is so tough on cars, not least of all engines, and I've always thought the RB was, of the front runners, the most delicate.

[Ste]

We're currently running a tenth and two tenths off the pace of the quickest McLaren. We know Felipe has more in the bag, at least a tenth or two - he was up before his off. He's currently on a par with the McLaren's and I assume Alonso will be too.

I do feel however that the McLaren's have something more - especially Hamilton. He's been quick out of the blocks in every session so far. I can see him taking pole pretty comfortably later today.

:-(

[vcs316]

Alonso P1

[NJB13]

Looks like engine failure for RB and the Renault engine :-)
AND
P1 for Fernando

[bladeswing]

massa purple s1 :-D

[vcs316]

We are purple in S1 & S3

[Ste]

McLaren's improve by 0.060 on the option tyres.

Alonso going for a second run after backing off in Parabolica.

JB up a little in S1, but nothing dramatic. Alonso matches him in S1. Poor S2 for JB, maybe had traffic.

Alonso currently up by 1 hundredth of a second. Quick S2, still slightly slower than the McLaren of JB - he has more downforce.

Alonso goes P1, goes quicker by a tenth of a second with a purple S1.

Massa does a purple S1, Hamilton PB in S1 and S2 - this will be quick.

Hamilton goes third, lost over a tenth to Alonso. Massa had a poor S2. Vettel lost lots of time behind backmarkers. Same for Massa.

Alonso on another hotlap, PB in S1, lost a tenth in S2. Over the line, and improves again. Improves further in S3.

[vcs316]

Alonso improves his P1 time again!

[m schumy]

1054: BBC pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz says Webber's problem was 'definitely engine related'. "Webber is going into qualifying on the back foot," adds Kravitz. Alonso goes quickest - a 1:22.644, then it's Button while Hamilton is now third after a 1:22.801. By the way, The track temperature has increased by a whopping 10C over the last hour.

[bladeswing]

alonso's really flying

[vcs316]

Hamilton P1, but got a slipstream from Adrian Sutil in the last sector

[NJB13]

Interesting Rosberg has done another purple sector-1 - and at the pointy-end of the session

[bladeswing]

rosberg 26.8 s1 :-E

[Ste]

Hamilton goes P1. Got a bit of a tow from Sutil on the back straight. Alonso PB in S1, still on the same tyres. Done about 4 or 5 laps on them so far. Lost a tenth in S2 on his PB but got traffic in Parabolica, gesturing at the Sauber infront.

Rosberg Purple in S1 by quite some margin, ends up P6.

Thoroughly happy with this session. We're right there.

Replay of Alonso, waving his hand. :lol

[LAROSA SpA]

Alonso was on for a good S3 but was held up by the Sauber

[Lithium]

ALO improves his P1.
To be honest it doesn't look too bad this weekend. Clear conditions, no weird setup experiments, I believe we will be very fast here.
HAM goes P1, but not by much.
MAS P3 so far.

[vcs316]

Interesting Rosberg has done another purple sector-1 - and at the pointy-end of the session

Mercedes are devastatingly quick in S1 but they lose time in S2 & S3

[NJB13]

Very very satisfying 3rd Practice session. we are definitely in the hunt and RB have some things to worry about on the engine front.

[vcs316]

Top 5 separated by 0.226 seconds.

Its gonna be a killer quali!!

[NJB13]

Mercedes are devastatingly quick in S1 but they lose time in S2 & S3

Rosberg is fast in sector-1

[Ferrarichamp]

P3 and P4. I hope we can go a bit quicker in qualy.

[m schumy]

Free Practice 3 Results

http://i56.tinypic.com/2z5j9es.jpg

[Tech_Skill]

Top 5 separated by 0.226 seconds.

Its gonna be a killer quali!!

For sure, Hamilton is the favorite and I think Mclaren have the strongest car, I actually think VETTEL will be the biggest threat to the Mclaren's and i assume they still have that Q3 trick they always pull. Can't wait to see Alonso in quali. Massa has been ON IT, no doubt about it, he looks dangerous around here.

[NJB13]

Both our cars seemed to do quite a few laps on the option tire, more than the Macca's and RB's, wish I paid attention to that, anyone know for sure?

[Greig]

Pole coming up for Nando I think :-)

[Ste]

Pole coming up for Nando I think :-)

Fingers and toes firmly crossed. :-)

[NJB13]

We are definitely in the hunt. Vettel will be up there, but I got the feeling watching Fernando that he definitely had something in reserve. Not long to see.
Fingers, toes and bayag all crossed :-)

[SilverSpeed]

It's been a long long time since we had a pole...

[gvsnraju85]

Both our cars seemed to do quite a few laps on the option tire, more than the Macca's and RB's, wish I paid attention to that, anyone know for sure?

yeah we did 4 timed laps on the option and alonso had to abandon 2 timed laps beacause of qualifying....so 6 timed laps on the same set

[brembo man]

[QUOTE=WRX202;623613]Well the last car "whine-icello" crashed into was a Ferrari, the old pensioner just cannot forgive Ferrari :-D. The poor whiner has enough on his hands already after that Williams declared they back the return of team orders :lol

Rubens drinks Cachaca not wine if thats what you meant. And never when he races. He crashed into a Ferrari because sadly our guys can't get out of there own way. We need him back without the other old pensioner MS on the team. And that bum Todt the king of team orders even at 4ft tall he was a terror on trhe radio, is gone forever.