F1 practice LIVE: Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz goes fastest in second practice at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza
Follow all the reaction from second practice as the Italian Grand Prix weekend gets underway
The Formula 1 season continues this weekend with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza with Max Verstappen surging towards a second World Championship after winning a fourth straight race in Zandvoort.
The Red Bull driver has a 109-point lead at the top of the Drivers Standings with seven races to go after overtaking Lewis Hamilton late on to win his home Grand Prix, with George Russell coming second and Charles Leclerc completing the podium in third. Hamilton, who led for much of the race, did not benefit from two safety car periods and ultimately finished fourth while Carlos Sainz was demoted from fifth to eighth after the Ferrari man was handed a five-second time penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane, with Sergio Perez instead finishing fifth.
This weekend, F1 finshes the European swing at Autodromo Nazionale Monza - which is celebrating its 100th anniversary - for the Italian Grand Prix; a race memorable in 2021 for Daniel Ricciardo leading a McLaren one-two and Verstappen and Hamilton crashing at turn one.
Charles Leclerc was quickest in first practice while Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz was fastest in FP2, amid grid penalties galore once again.
F1 practice - Italian Grand Prix: FP1 DONE!
That’s the first hour of running done here in Monza and Charles Leclerc leads a Ferrari one-two in first practice at Monza with a time of 1:22:410.
Carlos Sainz is second, 0.077 seconds behind his team-mate, with Goege Russell third - only two-tenths off the pace!
Hamilton fourth, Verstappen fifth. 6-10: Ocon, Alonso, Tsunoda, Bottas, Ricciardo.
Lando Norris suspiciously slow, four-tenths off his McLaren team-mate and down in 16th.
Nyck de Vries, in Vettel’s Aston Martin, comes home 19th (he also went into the gravel late on) with Nicholas Latifi 20th.
F1 practice - Italian Grand Prix: 10 minutes left!
It’s a Ferrari one-two at the moment, with Leclerc still on top followed by his team-mate Carlos Sainz in second - 0.077 seconds behind!
Russell and Hamilton have elevated themseles to third and fourth respectively, two and four-tenths off the pace, with Verstappen fifth.
6-10: Ocon, Alonso, Tsunoda, Bottas, Ricciardo
F1 practice - Italian Grand Prix: 30 mins gone!
He’s a man not set to take any penalties at the biggest race of his team’s season - and Charles Leclerc has got off to a rapid start, setting the fastest time in his Ferrari out at Monza with a 1:22:410.
Max Verstappen is second, four-tenths off, with Fernando Alonso third by another four-tenths.
Lewis Hamilton is 18th with George Russell only 15th.
F1 practice - Italian Grand Prix: Penalties galore!
A number of drivers are taking engine/gearbox/mechanical penalties this weekend - and here’s what we think we know regarding grid drops:
- Verstappen (5 places)
- Perez (10 places)
- Hamilton (Back of grid)
- Sainz (15 places)
- Bottas (15 places)
- Tsunoda (Back of grid)
F1 practice - Italian Grand Prix: FP1 begins!
Nyck de Vries, driving instead of Sebastian Vettel for the third time in an FP1 session this season, is the first car out of the pit lane in an Aston Martin this time as first practice gets underway at Monza!
Who will set the tone for the weekend? Carlos Sainz also out in his Ferrari, sporting a number of yellow touches on the scarlet red car in tribute to their 75th anniversary!
F1 practice - Italian Grand Prix: A minute’s silence takes place in Queen Elizabeth II’s memory
The Formula 1 paddock has just lined up in the pit lane for a minute’s silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
The gesture takes place 10 minutes before first practice starting at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
A picture of Her Majesty was put up on the screen on the podium hovering above the main straight too, nice touch from Formula 1.
F1 practice - Italian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton to start Italian Grand Prix from back of grid after engine penalty
Lewis Hamilton will start from the back of the grid for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix following an engine penalty. The British driver will be forced to take on his fourth power unit of the campaign in Monza – one more than is allowed under Formula One’s rules.
Hamilton’s impending punishment effectively ends his hopes of fighting for victory, a week after he apologised for accusing his team of “f****** screwing” him following a strategy blunder at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion might have been able to reach the end of the 22-race campaign using three engines before his opening-lap collision with Fernando Alonso in Spa-Francorchamps a fortnight ago.
Hamilton was launched airborne after he made contact with the Spaniard – an accident which saw Alonso label Hamilton an “idiot”. He sustained a water leak following the impact of the crash and Mercedes do not believe the engine is fit-for-use in its full capacity.
Lewis Hamilton to start Italian Grand Prix from back of grid after engine penalty
F1 practice: All eyes on Ferrari at Monza as Lewis Hamilton sees hopes of maintaining record dented with penalty
Just as quickly as the door opened at Zandvoort for Lewis Hamilton to clinch his first win of the season – and extend his year-on-year Grand Prix victory record – a Max Verstappen surge on quick softs slammed it shut. Now with seven races to go, Hamilton will already be looking to Singapore in three weeks’ time despite his arrival in Italy this weekend.
The seven-time world champion will take an engine penalty, demoting a Mercedes excruciatingly short on raw speed in 2022 to the back of the grid at the quickest circuit on the calendar here at Monza.
In a futile season where the Silver Arrows’ hybrid domination has been rendered a thing of the past, Hamilton’s 16-year record of winning at least one race in every season he’s competed in F1 has been pigeonholed as something to strive for in the closing months. By his fans that is, not the man himself.
“I don’t care about records,” he said in Thursday’s press conference. “For me it’s about winning another World Championship. The feeling of winning it is so unique and special. But of course the idea that no driver in history has gone past seven, you want to try to accomplish that.
“I feel healthier than I’ve ever felt - I focus a lot on that. I’m feeling fit, I love what I’m doing and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon.”
That last line has extra wieght, amid reports that Mercedes are considering giving a reserve contract to Daniel Ricciardo next year as a back-up for 2024 in case Hamilton opts not to extend his deal beyond 2023.
All eyes on Ferrari at Monza as Hamilton sees hopes of maintaining record dented
F1 practice: What time is the Italian Grand Prix?
What is the race schedule?
(All times BST)
Friday 9 September
- Free Practice 1: 1pm
- Free Practice 2: 4pm
Saturday 10 September
- Free Practice 3: Midday
- Qualifying: 3pm
Sunday 11 September
- Race: 2pm
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The entire race schedule from Friday to Sunday will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with qualifying live on Sky Sports Main Event at 3pm on Saturday. Highlights will be aired on Channel 4; for qualifying and the race at 6:30pm (BST) on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
F1 practice - Italian Grand Prix: Sir Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as ‘a symbol of hope’
Sir Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as a “symbol of hope” and “truly like no other” following the death of the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.
Seven-time Formula One world champion Hamilton was knighted for services to motorsports in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List, and is preparing for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, which will go ahead on Sunday as planned. A minute’s silence is set to take place before practice on Friday and another is expected ahead of the race.
In a post on Instagram, Hamilton wrote: “How do you find the words to describe the loss of Her Majesty The Queen? She was truly an iconic leader, an inspiration and a reassuring presence for most, if not all, of our lives.
“Since the sad news yesterday, I’ve been reflecting on her incredible life. She was a symbol of hope for so many and she served her country with dignity, dedication and kindness.
“She was truly like no other and I’m grateful to have lived during her time. Her legacy will be long-lasting and her passing deeply felt.” Hamilton also received an MBE following his maiden world title win in 2008.
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