F1 GP Italia, Free Practice 2: Vettel takes wings

Best time for Sebastian Vettel in the second free practice session of the Italian GP in Monza. The Red Bull Racing driver preceded his teammate Mark Webber by more than six tenths. Third and fourth times went to the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean who set the exact same time. Fifth was Fernando Alonso with Ferrari.

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Almost all the drivers immediately took to the track at the start of the session. Raikkonen set the fastest time in the early stages with 1.25.725.

After the first 10 minutes Vettel took the lead with a 1.25.616 and then dropped to 1.25.038. Rosberg moved into second place at six tenths of a second while Alonso, after a slow first lap (eighth), climbed to fourth position on his fifth lap and into second position on his seventh lap, reiterating Ferrari's difficulty in getting the tires up to temperature compared to the Red Bull. Shortly afterwards, first Webber and then Hamilton moved into third place.

The Australian and the Englishman then continued to push, moving into second and third place respectively. After the first 22 minutes Ricciardo and Bottas were first to mount the medium tyres.

A few minutes later Vettel also took to the track with the option compound, immediately dropping to 1.24.721 and then to 1.24.453 while Webber moved within six tenths.

Even with the medium tyres, Alonso struggled to get the tires up to temperature, taking third place behind the Red Bull, eight tenths of a second, on just his fourth lap.

After the first 45 minutes the two Lotuses moved into third and second place with Raikkonen and Grosjean setting the same time in succession, 1.25.116!

The teams then began the race simulation. In Red Bull Vettel started with a stint on the hard tire while Webber initially ran on the medium tyres. Similar program in Mercedes with Hamilton (medium) and Rosberg (hard). Between Red Bull and Mercedes in race configuration there was a difference between 5 and 8 tenths per lap.

Alonso completed a long run on medium tires with a pace that was not exceptional in the first laps but which progressed in the subsequent laps, placing himself behind the Red Bulls in terms of times, lapping in the 1'28" range. The Spaniard was slightly ahead of the two Lotuses in terms of race pace.

With half an hour to go Vettel put on medium tires and continued his race simulation.

15 minutes from time Massa suffered a gearbox problem and was stuck in third gear. The Brazilian managed to return to the pits.

No changes to the rankings in the last minutes of the session. Vettel therefore finished with the best time ahead of Webber, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg, Massa, Button, Perez.

Many errors with cuts at the First Variant and off-track exits at the Lesmo corners, among others for Pic, Van der Garde, Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg and Bianchi.

Worth noting is a good control at the limit by Raikkonen in Parabolica and an unconsequential off-track exit for Alonso, in the final, at the Second of Lesmo.

F1 Italian GP – Monza – Times and Results Free Practice 2