LECLERC TOPS INTERRUPTED ITALIAN GRAND PRIX PRACTICE
Charles Leclerc tops interrupted Italian Grand Prix practice – Photo: Suttons
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has come out on top of an interrupted day of practice at Monza ahead of this weekends Italian Grand Prix.
At the Italian marques home event, Leclerc set the benchmark time in both of the practice sessions in what was an interrupted day with rain and several red flags.
The wet conditions made things extremely difficult throughout out, especially with many of the cars running their lowest downforce configurations at the traditionally high-speed circuit. All the cars struggled for grip, with several spinning in spectacular fashion.
Sergio Perez crashed out of FP1 – Photo: LAT
Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) and Sergio Perez (Racing Point) had the biggest issues with the conditions, crashing out of FP1 before even setting a time. Both cars were repaired in time for FP2.
The conditions mixed up the timesheets in FP1, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris ended the session with the second and third fastest times ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Alexander Albon (Red Bull).
Carlos Sainz made the most of the wet ones conditions in FP1 – Photo: LAT
Order was restored during FP2 which started out dry alonging all drivers to set a representative time before the rain returned.
Leclerc again topped the session ahead of Hamilton, while Sebastian Vettel was third fastest in the second Ferrari.
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) was fourth ahead of Max Verstappen (Red Bull) who will have to start from the rear of the grid when his penalty is applied for upgrading his Honda engine.
Daniel Ricciardo discovering the limits – Photo: LAT
Daniel Ricciardo ended the day ninth fastest, the best of the Renaults.
Qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for 11pm AEST.
Formula 1 – Italian Grand Prix – FP1 Result
| Pos | Num | Driver | Team | Time/Diff |
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:27.905 |
| 2 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | McLaren Renault | +0.306s |
| 3 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Renault | +0.545s |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.825s |
| 5 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Red Bull Honda | +1.120s |
| 6 | 26 | Daniil Kvyat | Toro Rosso Honda | +2.055s |
| 7 | 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda | +2.195s |
| 8 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | +2.602s |
| 9 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | +2.691s |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Toro Rosso Honda | +2.790s |
| 11 | 99 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | +4.943s |
| 12 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Racing Point Mercedes | +6.071s |
| 13 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Renault | +6.623s |
| 14 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | +6.810s |
| 15 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | +7.228s |
| 16 | 8 | Romain Grosjean | Haas Ferrari | +8.075s |
| 17 | 88 | Robert Kubica | Williams Mercedes | +9.911s |
| 18 | 63 | George Russell | Williams Mercedes | +10.516s |
| 19 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Racing Point Mercedes | |
| 20 | 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | Alfa Romeo Ferrari |
Formula 1 – Italian Grand Prix – FP2 Result
| Pos | Num | Driver | Team | Time/Diff |
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:20.978 |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.068s |
| 3 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | +0.201s |
| 4 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | +0.369s |
| 5 | 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda | +0.372s |
| 6 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Red Bull Honda | +0.611s |
| 7 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Toro Rosso Honda | +1.146s |
| 8 | 8 | Romain Grosjean | Haas Ferrari | +1.175s |
| 9 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Renault | +1.271s |
| 10 | 26 | Daniil Kvyat | Toro Rosso Honda | +1.282s |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | +1.360s |
| 12 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | McLaren Renault | +1.504s |
| 13 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | +1.533s |
| 14 | 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | +1.545s |
| 15 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Racing Point Mercedes | +1.728s |
| 16 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Racing Point Mercedes | +1.904s |
| 17 | 99 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | +2.087s |
| 18 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Renault | +2.583s |
| 19 | 88 | Robert Kubica | Williams Mercedes | +2.759s |
| 20 | 63 | George Russell | Williams Mercedes | +3.335s |
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