F1 Monza Blog, FP2 in hotter, sunnier Italy

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Written by Kate Walker

Friday, 10 September 2010 15:00

Jeans were a bad idea today. So were all of the coats I saw people carrying on the train from Milan. Necessary in the pre-dawn hours, when the city felt chilly, coats have become heavy encumbrances to be carted round ad infinitum.

As the day has progressed, Monza has become enveloped in a blanket of stifling heat. Were it not for the lush environment, the trees, and the gentle breeze, this would be a very unpleasant day for those in the stands. Physically, that is. There is nothing unpleasant about passing the time by watching Formula 1 cars lap one of the world's most appealing circuits.

McLaren driver Jenson Button was fastest man of the morning, and only Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton were able to get close to his time. If the weekend continues in a similar vein, Saturday's qualifying session is likely to be dominated by McLaren and Red Bull, although Robert Kubica is in with a good chance for Renault.

In the interval between FP1 and FP2 the track temperature has been steadily climbing, by what appears to be a degree every five to ten minutes. With the air temperature at 25 degrees and track temperature at 37 degrees, getting heat into tyres is not going to be a problem this afternoon.

Initially, FP2 looked as though it would be another McLaren walkover. Jenson Button held the top slot for much of the first half of the session, before Lewis Hamilton pipped him to the post. Hamilton looked unassailable for around half an hour, but in the final twenty minutes everything changed in a number of instants.

First, Felipe Massa pulled out an absolute blinder of a lap, posting a 1.23.061s that looked as though it would last until the end of the session. But Massa was dethroned by Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, both of whom broke into the 1.22s within minutes of the Brazilian's flyer.

The number of changes at the top of the leaderboards today is an excellent sign for race fans. Should this continue, the possibilities for Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race are endless. The Red Bulls, McLarens, and Ferraris all have a shot at the front row, while Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica should not be discounted.

Monza lap record holder Rubens Barrichello (1.21.046s, set in 2004) has also made a strong showing this afternoon, making up for the lack of running this morning. The Brazilian's FP1 running was cut short when he suffered a total loss of drive to his car and ground to a halt. Stig-beater Rubens has won here three times before – 2002, 2004, and 2009 – and he should qualify well tomorrow. His car is not quite up to challenging for the front two rows, but P6 is not beyond the realms of possibility. Teammate Nico Hulkenberg has also impressed, and is a strong contender for a top ten grid spot.

Mark Webber had a difficult afternoon here in Italy. At no point was he able to match his teammate for pace, and shortly before the end of the session his car gave up the ghost and sputtered to a stop on the final corner. On the previous lap the Australian was able to set a 1.23.415s lap, which is competitive but not exceptional. Webber fans should remember that the Australian tends not to show his hand on Fridays, preferring to keep a few tenths in reserve for Saturday's qualifying.

Bruno Senna was the biggest loser on Friday afternoon, and was unable to set a time. Two minutes into the session the young Brazilian had brought out the yellow flags while his car was wheeled behind the barriers. Then, once he and car had returned to the pits, been dusted down, and sent back on their way – a process that took the best part of an hour – Senna was in the gravel and out of the session almost immediately, without having set a timed lap.

FP2 Times (unofficial)

1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 1.22.839s
2. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 1.22.915s
3. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 1.23.061s
4. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 1.23.154s
5. Jenson Button (McLaren) 1.23.210s
6. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 1.23.415s
7. Rubens Barrichello (Williams) 1.23.708s
8. Robert Kubica (Renault) 1.23.709s
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) 1.23.852s
10. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1.23.857s
11. Adrian Sutil (Force India) 1.24.181s
12. Tonio Liuzzi (Force India) 1.24.380s
13. Vitaly Petrov (Renault) 1.24.407s
14. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) 1.24.448s
15. Sebastian Buemi (Toro Rosso) 1.24.517s
16. Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber) 1. 24.547s
17. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) 1.24.785s
18. Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) 1.25.106s
19. Jarno Trulli (Lotus) 1.26.204s
20. Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus) 1.26.306s
21. Lucas di Grassi (Virgin) 1.26.631s
22. Timo Glock (Virgin) 1.26.676s
23. Sakon Yamamoto (HRT) 1.29.498s
24. Bruno Senna (HRT) [no time set] Kate Walker Girlracer magazine