Italian GP - Free Practice

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Pirelli Italian GP

Free Practice 1

August 30, 2024

During the first practice session at Monza, Max Verstappen showcased his impressive speed and skill by topping the timesheets, demonstrating his dominance on the track. His performance hinted at a potential strong showing for the upcoming race weekend.

On the other hand, the spotlight also fell on Italian rising star Kimi Antonelli, a promising talent in the world of motorsport. Speculations were rife about Antonelli potentially stepping into the coveted seat at Mercedes currently occupied by Lewis Hamilton, adding an element of intrigue and anticipation to the future of Formula One.

However, Antonelli's practice debut at the Italian Grand Prix took an unexpected turn when he suffered a spin-out, highlighting the challenges and pressures faced by young drivers in the competitive world of Formula One. The incident served as a valuable learning experience for the talented driver, offering insights into the demanding nature of top-tier racing.

Red Bull's championship leader Verstappen, a two-time Monza winner, was 0.228 seconds faster than Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on a sunny afternoon near Milan.

Lando Norris from McLaren, Verstappen's main title rival but currently 70 points adrift, secured the third best time.

Antonelli, who just turned 18, caused a red flag after losing control of the Mercedes at high-speed Parabolica, resulting in a crash into the barriers.

Filling in for regular driver George Russell on a track with a new surface, Antonelli had a promising start by setting an early fast lap.

"Sorry," Antonelli announced on the radio before exiting and leaving on foot.

"Kimi, all good," responded team principal Toto Wolff.

Russell was scheduled to take over in the "Temple of Speed" for the second session after the car was returned to the pits for repairs.

Antonelli visited the medical center for examinations, and the team aimed to prepare the car for the second practice session later that Friday.

"It's unfortunate it ended the way it did. But he was on the limit, pushing the limit from lap one, that's always good to see and it's all part of the learning curve," According to Bradley Lord.

Antonelli is set to be officially announced by Mercedes soon as the replacement for seven-time world champion Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari at the end of the season.

Verstappen's time of one minute 21.676 seconds was almost a second quicker than last year's first session when he also led with 1:22.657.

Last year's pole-sitter, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, came in fourth, followed by Sauber's Valtteri Bottas in fifth, McLaren's Oscar Piastri in sixth, and Hamilton in seventh.

"For us, it is no different to always," McLaren principal Andrea Stella stated. "There will be four teams in contention to win the race and practice one has shown some outliers as well.

"It could be some midfield cars join the party at the top."

Williams' Alex Albon secured the eighth fastest time, with Argentine driver Franco Colapinto in action for the team, finishing 17th after the team replaced under-performing American Logan Sargeant.

Colapinto experienced a moment of loss of control at Parabolica towards the end of the session, going into the gravel but managing to keep the car on track and return to the pits.

Red Bull's Sergio Pérez finished in ninth place, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin rounded out the top 10.

Free Practice 2

August 30, 2024

During Formula One practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap time on Friday, while 18-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli, who is expected to take over at Mercedes, had a serious crash in the first session.

The seven-time world champion finished the day with a best lap of 1:20.738, just 0.003 seconds quicker than McLaren's Lando Norris, who dominated the previous race in the Netherlands.

Carlos Sainz took third place in an upgraded Ferrari at the team's home circuit, indicating another close competition at the front of the field.

Norris, who is currently the closest competitor to Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen, is 70 points behind as they head into the weekend at the "Temple of Speed" near Milan.

Verstappen topped the timesheets in the first practice session with a time of 1:21.676, almost a second quicker than his best time at the same stage last year. However, he slipped to 14th place in the later session without attempting a qualifying simulation.

In the first session, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was second fastest.

The second practice session was briefly halted with a red flag when Kevin Magnussen of Haas hit the barriers.

Antonelli, who celebrated his 18th birthday last Sunday, caused the first session to be stopped after 10 minutes when the rear of the Mercedes car snapped out of line at the high-speed Parabolica corner, sending the car spinning into the barriers.

Filling in for regular driver George Russell on a track that has been completely resurfaced since last year, Antonelli had a promising start with a clean first lap, setting the early pace.

He apologized over the radio before leaving on foot.

"Kimi, all good," responded team principal Toto Wolff, who later confirmed to the press that the incident would not affect the team's decision regarding the driver.

Antonelli underwent medical checks at the medical center, and the team prepared the car for the second session, where Russell achieved the sixth fastest time after a delayed beginning.

"It's unfortunate it ended the way it did. But he [Antonelli] was on the limit, pushing the limit from lap one, that's always good to see and it's all part of the learning curve,"

Mercedes is expected to confirm Antonelli imminently as the replacement for Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari at the end of the season, according to team spokesman Bradley Lord.

After finishing sixth in session one, McLaren's Oscar Piastri ended the day as the fourth fastest, with Leclerc in fifth place.

McLaren principal Andrea Stella stated after the first practice that it is always the same for them.

"There will be four teams in contention to win the race and practice one has shown some outliers as well. It could be some midfield cars join the party at the top."

After Williams replaced the under-performing American Logan Sargeant, Argentine Franco Colapinto debuted as a race driver for the team and finished 17th in both sessions.

Colapinto had a moment of losing control at Parabolica towards the end of the first session, going into the gravel, but managed to keep the car going and make it back to the pits.

In the sessions, Red Bull's Sergio Perez achieved ninth and 15th places.

Free Practice 3

August 31, 2024

Lewis Hamilton demonstrated his dominance once again by topping the final practice session at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, showcasing his exceptional speed and skill. His Mercedes teammate, George Russell, also put in an impressive performance, closely following Hamilton and securing a one-two finish for the Mercedes team at the top of the timesheets.

The seven-time world champion's remarkable form was evident as he set a blistering time of 1:20.117, with Russell just 0.093 seconds behind. Hamilton's pursuit of a record sixth win at Monza on Sunday adds an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the upcoming race.

The competitive nature of the grid was highlighted by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finishing in third place, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri delivered a strong performance to claim fourth place. On the other hand, Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the current championship leader, faced challenges with front grip and had to settle for sixth place, with Lando Norris of McLaren finishing in fifth position.

Notably, Norris, who recently secured victory in the Netherlands, finds himself 70 points adrift of Verstappen in the championship standings with nine races remaining, setting the stage for a thrilling battle for the title.

Carlos Sainz, who clinched pole position at Monza last year, put in a solid performance to finish in seventh place. The Williams duo of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto impressed by securing eighth and ninth places, respectively, while Haas's Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10, showcasing the diversity and competitiveness of the field.

Overall, the final practice session at Monza provided a glimpse of the intense competition and excitement that fans can expect in the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, with drivers and teams pushing themselves to the limit in pursuit of victory and crucial championship points.

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