Button quickest in opening Italian practice

Practice for the Italian Grand Prix got underway this morning at Monza.

The conditions were nice, allowing the teams to go through their working programme.

Apart from the usual installation laps, there was not much action in the first part of the 90-minute session.

Michael Schumacher was an exception as he immediately embarked on a significant run. He set the early pace and had posted a 1’26’’038 when Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari joined him on track.

Lewis Hamilton took over at the front with just over 30 minutes gone. The McLaren driver completed his first flying lap in 1’25’’816. He took it down to a 1’24’’990. Many drivers joined in the action as the midway point approached and it wasn’t long before Sebastian Vettel put his Red Bull on top with a 1’23’’872.

Jenson Button moved up to P2 and then to P1 minutes later. With 33 minutes remaining, the reigning World Champion was leading from Vettel, Hamilton, Kubica and Rosberg.

The HRT and Lotus cars made a late appearance in the session as both teams had mechanical issues on their single-seaters. HRT had to fix a brake problem on Senna’s car while both Lotus cars suffered from hydraulic problems.

Senna’s session was short-lived though as he had to park his HRT on track after only eight laps.

The 90-minute session ended with Button on top. The McLaren driver set a 1’23’’693 fastest lap but Sebastian Vettel was only 0.097s slower in his Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton was third fastest ahead of Kubica and Rosberg.

Mark Webber set the sixth fastest time, 0.7 of a second down on Button. Liuzzi, Alonso, Massa and Schumacher completed the top ten.

Rubens Barrichello ended the session 23rd fastest as he was only able to complete 4 laps before his Williams Cosworth let him down.