McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel each set the fastest time in the two free practice sessions of the Grand Prix of Italy in Monza.
Hamilton was quickest this morning on the low-drag, ultra fast circuit of Monza with as time of 1m23.865, nearly one second faster than his teammate, Jenson Button.
Red Bull Racing's Vettel and Mark Webber ranked third and fourth, respectively. German Adrian Sutil, driving for Force India, took a fine fifth place. Interestingly, the two HRTs outpaced the Virgins.
In the afternoon's session, Sebastian Vettel put his RB7 in first place with a time of 1m24.010, but could not beat the time set by Hamilton in the opening session.
The fast times were set later in the sessions as more drivers began to use the softer Pirelli compound.
Vettel set his quick time and Hamilton looked set to go quicker than that before he was hit by traffic during his run of soft rubber.
Seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher ranked a promising third in the Mercedes W02. Nico Rosberg, in the second Mercedes, had KERS problems and finishes a lowly 22nd.
Ferrari's drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso had a strong afternoon, raking fourth and fifth, respectively.
Australian Webber was sixth quickest ahead of Button. Lotus Renault GP's Bruno Senna ended the day in 10th place, on spot ahead of his teammate, Vitaly Petrov.
Grand Prix of Italy, Monza, Friday first free practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'23"865 - 18 laps
2 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'24"786 - 19
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'25"231 - 25
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'25"459 - 24
5 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'26"550 - 23
6 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 1'26"625 - 20
7 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'26"647 - 20
8 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'26"676 - 24
9 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'26"694 - 28
10 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'26"696 - 15
11 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'26"699 - 21
12 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'26"826 - 21
13 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'26"836 - 25
14 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'26"996 - 29
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'23"365 - 25
16 - Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'27"385 - 23
17 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'27"433 - 25
18 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'27"492 - 24
19 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'29"539 - 10
20 - Karun Chandhok (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'30"148 - 19
21 - Daniel Ricciardo (HRT F111-Cosworth) - 1'30"609 - 27
22 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT F111-Cosworth) - 1'30"619 - 24
23 - Timo Glock (Marussia Virgin MVR02-Cosworth) - 1'31"052 - 12
24 - Jerome d'Ambrosio (Marussia Virgin MVR02-Cosworth) - 1'31"899 – 22
Grand Prix of Italy, Monza, Friday second free practice session*:
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'24"010 - 37 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'24"046 - 21
3 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'24"347 - 39
4 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'24"366 - 33
5 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'24"433 - 31
6 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'24"468 - 32
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'24"508 - 30
8 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'25"097 - 39
9 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'25"182 - 37
10 - Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'25"325 - 38
11 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 1'25"450 - 31
12 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'25"496 - 39
13 - Paul di Resta (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'25"683 - 37
14 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'25"758 - 29
15 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'26"202 - 36
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'26"353 - 40
17 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'28"347 - 5
18 - Jarno Trulli (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'28"559 - 32
19 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'28"605 - 32
20 - Timo Glock (Marussia Virgin MVR02-Cosworth) - 1'28"804 - 25
21 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT F111-Cosworth) - 1'29"162 - 34
22 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'29"184 - 29
23 - Jerome d'Ambrosio (Marussia Virgin MVR02-Cosworth) - 1'29"622 - 34
24 - Daniel Ricciardo (HRT F111-Cosworth) - 1'29"841 - 8
* Unofficial timing
Hamilton was quickest this morning on the low-drag, ultra fast circuit of Monza with as time of 1m23.865, nearly one second faster than his teammate, Jenson Button.
 |
| Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes (Photo: WRi2) |
Red Bull Racing's Vettel and Mark Webber ranked third and fourth, respectively. German Adrian Sutil, driving for Force India, took a fine fifth place. Interestingly, the two HRTs outpaced the Virgins.
In the afternoon's session, Sebastian Vettel put his RB7 in first place with a time of 1m24.010, but could not beat the time set by Hamilton in the opening session.
The fast times were set later in the sessions as more drivers began to use the softer Pirelli compound.
 |
| Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault (Photo: WRi2) |
Vettel set his quick time and Hamilton looked set to go quicker than that before he was hit by traffic during his run of soft rubber.
Seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher ranked a promising third in the Mercedes W02. Nico Rosberg, in the second Mercedes, had KERS problems and finishes a lowly 22nd.
Ferrari's drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso had a strong afternoon, raking fourth and fifth, respectively.
 |
| Fernando Alonso, Ferrari (Photo: WRi2) |
Australian Webber was sixth quickest ahead of Button. Lotus Renault GP's Bruno Senna ended the day in 10th place, on spot ahead of his teammate, Vitaly Petrov.
Grand Prix of Italy, Monza, Friday first free practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'23"865 - 18 laps
2 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'24"786 - 19
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'25"231 - 25
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'25"459 - 24
5 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'26"550 - 23
6 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 1'26"625 - 20
7 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'26"647 - 20
8 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'26"676 - 24
9 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'26"694 - 28
10 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'26"696 - 15
11 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'26"699 - 21
12 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'26"826 - 21
13 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'26"836 - 25
14 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'26"996 - 29
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'23"365 - 25
16 - Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'27"385 - 23
17 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'27"433 - 25
18 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'27"492 - 24
19 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'29"539 - 10
20 - Karun Chandhok (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'30"148 - 19
21 - Daniel Ricciardo (HRT F111-Cosworth) - 1'30"609 - 27
22 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT F111-Cosworth) - 1'30"619 - 24
23 - Timo Glock (Marussia Virgin MVR02-Cosworth) - 1'31"052 - 12
24 - Jerome d'Ambrosio (Marussia Virgin MVR02-Cosworth) - 1'31"899 – 22
Grand Prix of Italy, Monza, Friday second free practice session*:
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'24"010 - 37 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'24"046 - 21
3 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'24"347 - 39
4 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'24"366 - 33
5 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'24"433 - 31
6 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'24"468 - 32
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'24"508 - 30
8 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'25"097 - 39
9 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'25"182 - 37
10 - Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'25"325 - 38
11 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 1'25"450 - 31
12 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'25"496 - 39
13 - Paul di Resta (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'25"683 - 37
14 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'25"758 - 29
15 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'26"202 - 36
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'26"353 - 40
17 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'28"347 - 5
18 - Jarno Trulli (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'28"559 - 32
19 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'28"605 - 32
20 - Timo Glock (Marussia Virgin MVR02-Cosworth) - 1'28"804 - 25
21 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT F111-Cosworth) - 1'29"162 - 34
22 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'29"184 - 29
23 - Jerome d'Ambrosio (Marussia Virgin MVR02-Cosworth) - 1'29"622 - 34
24 - Daniel Ricciardo (HRT F111-Cosworth) - 1'29"841 - 8
* Unofficial timing