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| F1 Monza Blog, FP1 in sunny Italy |
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| Written by Kate Walker | |||
| Friday, 10 September 2010 11:12 | |||
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For while the Italian Grand Prix still bears the hallmarks of summer, with its hot lazy days and sun-baked grass, there is a definite chill in the air as night falls. Autumn is on its way, make no mistake. While Friday practice sessions are all about perfecting the set-up for the weekend’s racing, the big question in the paddock today is to F-duct or not to F-duct. Williams’ Sam Michaels called the decision a no-brainer, thanks to Monza’s long straights, while McLaren’s Paddy Lowe was undecided. As ever, teams will spend the day running a variety of set-ups until they find the one that works for this circuit. If the rest of the weekend continues as Friday morning began – and Fernando Alonso knows all too well that a good Friday does not an excellent weekend make – then the fight for pole on Saturday is likely to be a straight fight between McLaren and Red Bull. Both Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel have something to prove this weekend; thanks to their collision in Spa neither man finished the race in the points. Button and Vettel were the two at the top of the practice times for the bulk of FP1, and a continuation of their current form would see both drivers reassert their claim to fight for the drivers' title. Lewis Hamilton has yet to find the sweet spot in his car that his teammate found on his first flying lap. The young Brit is only a few tenths behind the current world champion, but despite a concerted effort on-track he was consistently slower than Button in the first and second sectors. Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso is also a man on a mission this weekend. The Spanish double champion was the third of the five serious title challengers not to score points in Spa, so like Vettel and Button he must do well this weekend to keep his championship hopes alive. But there is more on the line for Alonso than just the championship – this is his first race for Ferrari on home soil, and the Spaniard will be feeling the pressure to deliver the goods to the ever-loyal Tifosi. It could be an uphill struggle for Alonso. There is no doubt that Ferrari have seen a dramatic upturn in performance in recent months, and the Spanish driver does not lack the necessary skill to deliver the goods. But Monza is a circuit that suits the two McLarens, and every circuit seems to suit the RB6. Further complicating matters for Alonso is dark horse Robert Kubica, who outdrives his car at every opportunity and excels at low-downforce circuits such as this. Kubica and Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg have both spent time in the top four this morning, but the Pole is the only one to have stayed there. Rosberg has dipped in and out of the top five, trading spots with Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso. Rubens Barrichello bowed out of the session very early on; the Brazilian had completed only four laps before bringing out the yellow flags when he stopped due to an unspecified mechanical failure. But despite the mishap, Barrichello did not set the slowest time of the morning, an honour that usually belongs to the man who crashed out first. Instead, that crown can be claimed by HRT's Sakon Yamamoto, whose efforts after sixteen laps saw him 1.3s down on Barrichello's time, and 6.177s off the pace. Recent revelations that HRT are being sued by their legal team for unpaid bills explain Yamamoto's continuing presence in the car. The question is, for how much longer can they justify it? Money in the hand is all good and well, but the team need to be looking towards their long-term future. For that they need sponsors, who are usually attracted by results. FP1 Times (unofficial) 1. Jenson Button (McLaren) 1.23.693s Worth Checking - F1 News - Kate Walkers F1 blog
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| Last Updated on Friday, 10 September 2010 11:13 |
