Hamilton concludes Italian practice on top
As the field tightens up
The third and final free practice session for the Italian Grand Prix was held in glorious conditions on Saturday morning at the Royal Park of Monza.
Red Bull had again put flow-visibility paint at the rear of both its RB6. The McLarens of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton were fitted with different aerodynamic packages. The championship leader worked with the low-downforce spec while his teammate evaluated a sizable rear wing and the F-duct.
As most of the field remained in the pits after the usual installation laps, Michael Schumacher shared the track with the Virgins of Glock and di Grassi. Unsurprisingly, the German set the early pace. With a 1’25’’026 he was quickly overhauled though when the frontrunners came out for a first run.
As the halfway point of the session approached, it was a McLaren one-two at the front with Hamilton 0.158 faster than Button. They were followed by the Red Bulls of Vettel and Webber. Nico Hulkenberg was fifth for Williams.
Vettel and Webber subsequently improved and moved up to P2 and P3, splitting the McLarens as the session reached its midway point. By then, Fernando Alonso was about to complete his first timed lap. He did so in 1’24’’095 and moved up from last to P7. His Ferrari teammate was sixth fastest.
As Alonso upped the pace and set the third fastest time – 0.075s down on Hamilton, Massa had a moment at Lesmo. The McLaren drivers then came back on track and Button took over at the front with a 1’22’’858.
With 18 minutes remaining, Mark Webber’s RB6 stopped at the exit of the first chicane – replays indicated a sudden loss of drive. It was the second time this weekend the Australian had a problem – on Friday afternoon, he had to park his car on the track because of a water pressure issue.
Vettel found some improvement in the final part of the session and closed within 0.019s to Button. He even looked on course to edge over the British driver but didn’t complete his hot lap and pitted.
Alonso set a new fastest time with five minutes to go. He was eventually toppled by Hamilton and Vettel in the dying moments of the session and ended third fastest, 0.146s down on the fastest McLaren. The Spaniard was 0.004s quicker than his teammate Massa. Button rounded off the top five.
Rosberg set the sixth fastest time for Mercedes. Webber was seventh fastest with Hulkenberg eighth, Kubica ninth and Sutil tenth.
The top eleven drivers were covered by 0.952s.