Hot on the heels of the news that the FIA, world motorsport’s governing body, upheld Ferrari’s $100,000 fine, but will review the rule banning team orders. [BBC]
Hamilton was fastest in the final practice session (1:22.498), followed by Vettel and Alonso. Webber parked his Red Bull on the track after it lost power.
Air temperature 26°C; track 38°C; humidity 35%
Bridgestone have brought the soft (option) and hard (prime) compound tyres.
Qualifying Session 1 (Q1)
TG first to exit the pit lane
TG just about to start his first hot lap as VP exits the pit lane and pulls in front, blocking TG – penalty for VP?
TG 1:31.692
VL 1:25.774
MS 1:25.619
NH 1:25.490
JA 1:25.211
RB 1:23.743
JB 1:23.693
(NH P2)
LH 1:22.830
10mins left of Q1
FA 1:22.803
FA 1:22.646
FM 1:22.421 – faster than LH’s final practice time
BBC report that VL’s car is broken but he’s not sure why – he’s currently P18 but won’t improve on that
3mins left – bottom 7 are VL, JT, TG, HK, LdG, BS, SY
(JT P18)
Chequered flag
(HK P19)
Back of the grid will be: P18=JT, 19=HK, 20=VL, 21=TG*, 22=LDG, 23=BS, 24=SY
That’s both Italian drivers out in Q1 of their home Grand Prix
*TG has a 5 grid spot penalty for non-regulation work on his Virgin’s gearbox ahead of qualifying
Qualifying Session 2 (Q2)
JA first on track but everyone’s keen to get out there
JA 1:24.459
AS 1:24.183
NH 1:23.541
JB 1:22.950
LH 1:22.497
(FA P2)
FA 1:22.297
(RK P4)
Halfway through Q2; bottom 7 are AS, MS, SB, KK, VP, JA, PdlR
(SV P4)
SV continues to push – touch a gravel trap but keeps his foot down
3mins left; bottom 7 unchanged – AS, MS, SB, KK, VP, JA, PdlR
Just LH & RK in the pits – everyone else on track for their final flying laps
(JB P4)
(AS P10, pushing RB to P11)
(KK P13)
(RB back to P10)
Chequered flag falls
(MS can’t improve on P12)
(JB P2)
Middle of the grid will be: P11=AS, 12=MS, 13=KK, 14=SB, 15=VP, 16=JA, 17=PdlR
Qualifying Session 3 (Q3)
The battle for the top 10 grid spots is between FA, JB, LH, FM, SV, MW, RK, NH, NR & RB
FM heads the queue at the pit lane exit
FM 1:22.547
FA 1:21.962
(JB P2)
(LH P4)
Order is FA, JB, FM, LH, MW, SV, RK
NR, RB, NH yet to leave the pits
(FM stays P3)
(NH P8)
(RB P9)
FM in a rush to leave his garage for one final flying lap
Chequered flag for Q3
FA pits, still provisionally P1
(JB can’t improve on P2)
(FM stays P3)
(MW P4)
(LH down to P5)
So FA puts the Ferrari on pole in the Italian Grand Prix
Provisional grid: FA, JB, FM, MW, LH, SV, NR, NH, RK, RB, AS, MS, KK, SB, VP, JA, PdlR, JT, HK, VL, [TG*] LDG, BS, SY, TG
*TG has a 5 grid spot penalty for non-regulation work on his Virgin’s gearbox ahead of qualifying
From the official FIA site: