2016 Formula One Italian Grand Prix

[Paul Jeffrey]

Not for the first time this season, AMG Mercedes team mates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton dominated the top of the timesheets during Free Practice as the Formula One circus prepares for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

With Rosberg stopping the clocks during the morning session almost a full second faster than nearest Mercedes challenger Kimi Raikkonen, it was his championship leading teammate Lewis Hamilton who will cause the most cause for concern, admitting o the assembled media that he feels his Mercedes is further in front of the competition than usual at Monza this weekend.

In other news, both Max Verstappen, Jenson Button and Sergio Perez had a turn using the new "Halo" device during opening practice. Renault driver Kevin Magnussen (whom has yet to drive with a "halo" device installed) and Force India pilot Sergio Perez voiced their concerns with current solution when speaking to media during the day.

Free Practice 1
1. Nico Rosberg GER Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 22.959s
2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 23.162s
3. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 24.047s
4. Sebastian Vettel GER Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 24.307s
5. Sergio Perez MEX Force India-Mercedes 1m 24.650s
6. Romain Grosjean FRA Haas-Ferrari 1m 24.763s
7. Valtteri Bottas FIN Williams-Mercedes 1m 24.785s
8. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull-TAG 1m 24.982s
9. Esteban Gutierrez MEX Haas-Ferrari 1m 25.113s
10. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Red Bull-TAG 1m 25.120s
11. Jenson Button GBR McLaren-Honda 1m 25.351s
12. Alfonso Celis Jr MEX Force India-Mercedes 1m 25.367s
13. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren-Honda 1m 05.507s
14. Felipe Massa BRZ Williams-Mercedes 1m 25.840s
15. Marcus Ericsson SWE Sauber-Ferrari 1m 25.853s
16. Carlos Sainz Jr ESP Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 25.973s
17. Daniil Kvyat RUS Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 26.074s
18. Esteban Ocon FRA Manor-Mercedes 1m 26.391s
19. Felipe Nasr BRA Sauber-Ferrari 1m 26.439s
20. Pascal Wehrlein GER Manor-Mercedes 1m 26.762s
21. Jolyon Palmer GBR Renault-Renault 1m 26.811s
22. Kevin Magnussen DEN Renault-Renault 1m 26.956s

Free Practice 2
1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 22.801s
2. Nico Rosberg GER Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 22.994s
3. Sebastian Vettel GER Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 23.254s
4. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 23.427s
5. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull-TAG 1m 23.732s
6. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Red Bull-TAG 1m 24.003s
7. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren-Honda 1m 24.259s
8. Valtteri Bottas FIN Williams-Mercedes 1m 24.299s
9. Romain Grosjean FRA Haas-Ferrari 1m 24.516s
10. Jenson Button GBR McLaren-Honda 1m 24.549s
11. Felipe Massa BRZ Williams-Mercedes 1m 24.556s
12. Nico Hulkenberg GER Force India-Mercedes 1m 24.587s
13. Sergio Perez MEX Force India-Mercedes 1m 24.653s
14. Esteban Gutierrez MEX Haas-Ferrari 1m 24.674s
15. Marcus Ericsson SWE Sauber-Ferrari 1m 24.981s
16. Pascal Wehrlein GER Manor-Mercedes 1m 25.083s
17. Carlos Sainz Jr ESP Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 25.240s
18. Esteban Ocon FRA Manor-Mercedes 1m 25.275s
19. Kevin Magnussen DEN Renault-Renault 1m 25.555s
20. Daniil Kvyat RUS Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 25.614s
21. Felipe Nasr BRA Sauber-Ferrari 1m 25.643s
22. Jolyon Palmer GBR Renault-Renault 1m 25.833s


Check out the Formula One sub forum here at RaceDepartment for your regular Grand Prix fix.

Looking forward to Monza? How do you think will hold all the cards at race end? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[yusupov]

already a second faster than last years pole. the cars are insane this year; wish they doubled the ERS theyre allowed to store.

red bull & mclaren are showing off a very nice pace too. williams has totally lost the plot...

 

[Glaurung]

 

[Peter]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/343872/button-perez-and-verstappen-test-halo/

In other news, both Kevin Magnussen, Jenson Button and Sergio Perez had a turn using the new "Halo" device during opening practice, with neither the Renault or Force India driver seemingly impressed with the solution.

It was Mad Max, Button and Perez testing Halo.

 

[Paul Jeffrey]

I missed that one! Did Max use it in FP2 then (I haven't seen all the FP2 running.. to busy writing these articles up with it on the telly in the background ).

Be interesting to hear what he has to say about it, being a young 'un he's bound to be a bit less restrained in his opinions, and also less used to having an unobstructed view in a single seater race car. Would love to see what he thinks about it. Looks like a (electronic) trip to the F1 press office for RedBull later tonight... gonna be a late one again!!!

EDIT: Just read the link. It was FP1 Max ran the halo. Must have been during a toilet break or something when that happened

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Qualy time! Lets see if the entire top 10 will consist of Mercedes engines

 

[HRE]

Great qualy,nico didn't look to happy lol

 

[paracletus]

no contest today. LH has flatted a tyre though, might compromise the race a bit.
ferrari way slower, red bull nowhere. Looks like it'll be a procession tomorrow up front.

 

[Melonade]

no contest today. LH has flatted a tyre though, might compromise the race a bit.
ferrari way slower, red bull nowhere. Looks like it'll be a procession tomorrow up front.

The only way Mercedes are going to lose is if they get off to terrible starts and are jumped by the Ferraris.

 

[Mark Aalberts]

The only way Mercedes are going to lose is if they get off to terrible starts and are jumped by the Ferraris.

Ferrari indeed occasionally has brilliant starts and are great of the line. However Monza is Merc heaven so no chance for the other teams not even Ferrari. Especially when you look at the long runs the difference is pretty obvious. If both Merc boys survive the first lap it will be a walk in the park for them.

My odd prediction, Wehrlein to score his 2nd point tomorrow.

 

[the_sigman]

I think Im going for a new ringtone https://soundcloud.com/user-960205577/nicola-rosberg-seven-nation-army