Italian GP | FP1 - Leclerc tops the first session in a rainy Monza
The First Free Practice session of the Italian weekend ends up, after 3 Red Flags, with Leclerc fastest on track.
The Temple of Speed welcomes the 20 Formula 1 cars with a wet surface for the first session of Free Practice.
The rain is not heavy, but still the temperatures are below 20°.
The Italian Grand Prix is a big opportunity for Ferrari to repeat the Belgium results, even if the weather can mix things up.
A victory here would be amazing for Ferrari, whose last win in Monza was in 2010 with Fernando Alonso (who is expect to be in the Paddock this weekend). The Scuderia is also celebrating its 90 years anniversary.
It's the home Grand Prix for Alfa Romeo and Antonio Giovinazzi too: the Italian - Swiss team has brought a special livery for their home race, with the Italian flag colours on the C38.
A special Monza livery to show our passion on our skin.... 😍🇮🇹
— Alfa Romeo Racing (@alfaromeoracing) September 5, 2019
•#ItalianGP #MonzaF1 @alfa_romeo @AlfaRomeoMuseo pic.twitter.com/bIfpd4hgMm
Also, this is the first home GP in Formula 1 for Antonio Giovinazzi, who already discovered the feeling of being on the unique Monza podium back in 2016, when he won in Formula 1. His fan club is already organizing several fan actions to show the Apulian driver their support.
During the initial minutes of Free Practice 1, our drivers just made out run laps with Wet Pirelli tyres to switch, after 20 minutes, to Intermediate tyres.
After just 26 minutes, the monotony is broken by Kimi Raikkonen, who just stopped into the gravels at Turn 11. His Alfa Romeo just crashed into the barriers and got stuck there. This caused a Red Flag.
The red flag stops the session as Kimi Raikkonen spins out 🔄
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 6, 2019
He is out of the car and about to return to the pit lane#F1 #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/QqX27DBRSL
The session restarts soon, but it isn't enough: it is now Sergio Perez's turn to crash into the barriers, at the Ascari's exit. The Mexican damaged his Racing Point rear wing. It's the second red flag of the session.
"Can I have a lift, please?"#F1 #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/xrdpUcdvGT
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 6, 2019
The session restarts for the second time, the drivers are out again with Intern, but the track is still wet. Pierre Gasly spun with his Toro Rosso at Turn 1, causing another Red Flag. The French restarted instantly, and so did the session, and came back to the Pit Lane.
Turn 1 is fatal for most of drivers: Kevin Magnussen, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclderc, Lando Norris and Sebastian Vettel all missed the Chicane at Turn 2; Antonio Giovinazzi caused a red flag in the same place, as he lost his Alfa Romeo but restarted soon.
Turns One and Two have proved troublesome so far!
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 6, 2019
Giovinazzi is the latest driver to spin out 🔄#F1 #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/wifmRGQCa3
The track is slowly drying, but still Turn 1 and 2 are causing some issues to the drivers. The turn is, anyway, difficult to do perfectly during the race; rain makes it worse.
When there are just 10 minutes left and Valtteri Bottas leads the group with a lap time of 1.30.596s, Leclerc and Vettel are the firsts to try out the Medium tyres, as Sainz, Norris and Kvyat are wearing Soft tyres. Other drivers follows in wearing slick tyres.
The Ferraris are wearing slick tyres for the final stages of FP1 👀#F1 #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/rxPcRgfzFM
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 6, 2019
Everyone improves in the very last minutes of the session with slick tyres, but it is Charles Leclerc the last to get Checkered flag with the fastest time, wearing Mediums.
Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris follow with their Papaya Renault. Fourth fastest is Lewis Hamilton, while Vettel is only 7th.
Here is the complete classification for the first Free Practice session in Monza.
