Nico Rosberg led Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton in another show of strength by the dominant Formula One champions in first practice for the Italian Grand Prix on Friday. Having recovered to 3rd place in the race – a result which race victor Nico Rosberg says surprised him – Hamilton is looking forward to being able to challenge from the front this weekend at Monza.
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Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third fastest with Kimi Raikkonen qualifying fourth for the Italian team’s home race at the circuit near Milan.
Hamilton topped the timesheets on Friday afternoon, and the championship leader was fastest again on Saturday morning with a best lap of one minute and 22.008 seconds.
But apparently lacking straightline speed, Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were only eighth and tenth quickest.
“I’m chill”, Hamilton said after reversing positions with Rosberg and leading Friday’s second practice session for the Italian GP.
Rosberg won the Belgian GP last weekend to cut Hamilton’s championship lead to nine points. The former was within half-a-second of Hamilton’s quickest lap.
Button was eleventh for McLaren, two places up on team-mate Fernando Alonso, while the struggling Renault team brought up the rear of the field after being outpaced by Sauber and Manor.
Hamilton, a victor at the so-called Temple of Speed in each of the previous two seasons, is hoping to become the first driver since five-time champion Juan Manuel Fangio to triumph at the Italian Grand Prix for three consecutive years.
Meanwhile, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and the Italian Automobile Club announced that they have reached an agreement to keep the Italian GP in Monza for the next three years.
“We’re getting all the small details that are important in a contract together and we’ll sign this”, he said.
“The contract is only for three years, but I hope we will be here for another 100”.
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Based on his previous record, Hamilton should be enthused by the extension.
