(Monza) Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Spaniard Carlos Sainz set the fastest times in the first free practice session of the Italian Grand Prix, 16e round of the Formula 1 World Championship on Friday at Monza.
Posted at 9:58 a.m.
The stables and spectators observed a minute of silence in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, ten minutes before the start of these tests. Another minute of silence should be observed before the race on Sunday.
At the Monza Autodromo, which celebrates its 100e anniversary this weekend, the Ferrari hope to regain victory after four successes in a row for Max Verstappen (Red Bull), largely leader of the championship with 109 points ahead of Leclerc.
After the first hour on this “Temple of Speed”, Ferrari can be smiling: it has placed its drivers at the top of the standings, ahead of the Mercedes, and relegated Verstappen to 5e place and Sergio Pérez, his teammate, at the 14e.
More important than these for the moment anecdotal times, Verstappen and Pérez will be penalized on the starting grid on Sunday, respectively five and ten places, for a change of internal combustion engine.
Sainz will be penalized more heavily and will start from behind, having changed more parts on his car, just like Lewis Hamilton.
These penalties could make Leclerc happy, who has not won since Austria on July 10.
In addition, Italian reserve drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Dutch Nyck de Vries took part in this test session, respectively for Haas and Aston Martin.
1D free practice session
- Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:22,410 (25 laps)
- Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:22,487 (23)
- George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:22,689 (27)
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:22,831 (24)
- Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:22,840 (27)
- Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:23,075 (28)
- Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault) 1:23,099 (26)
- Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:23,260 (26)
- Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:23,394 (27)
- Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:23,511 (26)
- Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:23,529 (24)
- Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:23,570 (28)
- Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:23,640 (27)
- Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:23,661 (21)
- Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:23,688 (28)
- Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:23,856 (27)
- Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:24,006 (24)
- Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Haas-Ferrari) 1:24,317 (25)
- Nyck de Vries (NED/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:24,731 (22)
- Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1:24,941 (24)