Rain fell for most of the morning at an extremely gloomy Monza, with the track damp initially and only a handful of teams choosing to go out before further showers prevented quick times being set. In the afternoon, Kimi Raikkonen pleased the tifosis by clocking the best time.
Around mid session, a downpour required the installation of extreme rain tires. Soon, the garages were flooded and the conditions became very dark with very low visibility.
German driver Adrian Sutil set the fastest time in his Ferrari-powered Force India during the few minutes the track was almost dry. Sutil finished ahead of veteran Rubens Barrichello (Honda) and Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India). Sixth drivers only completed installation laps and returned to their garages.
In the afternoon, the session began on a damp track, but unlike the first session, the conditions steadily improved.
Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen celebrated the announcement of his Ferrari contract extension by setting the pace. The reigning champion beat the BMWs of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld to the top spot, with points' leader Lewis Hamilton taking 4th for McLaren and Nico Rosberg ranking 5th in his Williams.
It was a disastrous day for Japanese teams Honda and Toyota. Rubens Barrichello was 14th and Jenson Button was 15th for Honda, while Toyota's Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli could not do better than 17th and 19th, respectively. Renault's Nelson Piquet spun at the chicane and had to abandon his car on the spot.
Morning free practice session:
1 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM01-Ferrari) - 1'32"842
2 - Rubens Barrichello (Honda RA108) - 1'33"428
3 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India VJM01-Ferrari) - 1'33"695
4 - Timo Glock (Toyota TF108) - 1'36"800
5 - Nico Rosberg (Williams FW30-Toyota) - 1'36"900
6 - Fernando Alonso (Renault R28) - 1'36"965
7 - Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso STR3-Ferrari) - 1'37"142
8 - Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF108) - 1'37"214
9 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F2008) - 1'37"392
10 - Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso STR3-Ferrari) - 1'37"754
11 - Nelson Piquet (Renault R28) - 1'38"057
12 - David Coulthard (Red Bull RB3-Renault) - 1'38"303
13 - Jenson Button (Honda RA108) - 1'39"062
14 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2008) - 1'40"233
15 - Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber F1.08) - no time
16 - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW30-Toyota) - no time
17 - Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber F1.08) - no time
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Renault R28) - no time
19 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB3-Renault) - no time
20 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/23-Mercedes) - no time
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| Cleaning up the Ferrari garages... |
Around mid session, a downpour required the installation of extreme rain tires. Soon, the garages were flooded and the conditions became very dark with very low visibility.
German driver Adrian Sutil set the fastest time in his Ferrari-powered Force India during the few minutes the track was almost dry. Sutil finished ahead of veteran Rubens Barrichello (Honda) and Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India). Sixth drivers only completed installation laps and returned to their garages.
In the afternoon, the session began on a damp track, but unlike the first session, the conditions steadily improved.
Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen celebrated the announcement of his Ferrari contract extension by setting the pace. The reigning champion beat the BMWs of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld to the top spot, with points' leader Lewis Hamilton taking 4th for McLaren and Nico Rosberg ranking 5th in his Williams.
It was a disastrous day for Japanese teams Honda and Toyota. Rubens Barrichello was 14th and Jenson Button was 15th for Honda, while Toyota's Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli could not do better than 17th and 19th, respectively. Renault's Nelson Piquet spun at the chicane and had to abandon his car on the spot.
Morning free practice session:
1 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM01-Ferrari) - 1'32"842
2 - Rubens Barrichello (Honda RA108) - 1'33"428
3 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India VJM01-Ferrari) - 1'33"695
4 - Timo Glock (Toyota TF108) - 1'36"800
5 - Nico Rosberg (Williams FW30-Toyota) - 1'36"900
6 - Fernando Alonso (Renault R28) - 1'36"965
7 - Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso STR3-Ferrari) - 1'37"142
8 - Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF108) - 1'37"214
9 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F2008) - 1'37"392
10 - Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso STR3-Ferrari) - 1'37"754
11 - Nelson Piquet (Renault R28) - 1'38"057
12 - David Coulthard (Red Bull RB3-Renault) - 1'38"303
13 - Jenson Button (Honda RA108) - 1'39"062
14 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2008) - 1'40"233
15 - Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber F1.08) - no time
16 - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW30-Toyota) - no time
17 - Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber F1.08) - no time
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Renault R28) - no time
19 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB3-Renault) - no time
20 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/23-Mercedes) - no time