Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

How F1 rule changes to improve safety could also remove "unintended overtaking"

Formula 1
Miami GP
How F1 rule changes to improve safety could also remove "unintended overtaking"

Can Miami really be the start of a 'new' F1 season?

Feature
Formula 1
Miami GP
Can Miami really be the start of a 'new' F1 season?

Ducati brings new swingarm and fairing to Jerez MotoGP test

MotoGP
Jerez Official Testing
Ducati brings new swingarm and fairing to Jerez MotoGP test

MotoGP Jerez test: Aprilia 1-2-3 as new aero packages appear

MotoGP
MotoGP Jerez test: Aprilia 1-2-3 as new aero packages appear

Bedrin's initial Velocity guides him to early GB3 lead at Silverstone

National
Bedrin's initial Velocity guides him to early GB3 lead at Silverstone

The simulations that show how F1 qualifying and racing will change from Miami GP

Formula 1
Miami GP
The simulations that show how F1 qualifying and racing will change from Miami GP

Neuville: “Nobody" at Hyundai has answers to WRC struggles    

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
Neuville: “Nobody" at Hyundai has answers to WRC struggles    

How Ogier mastered the fine margins in epic Solberg WRC duel

Feature
WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
How Ogier mastered the fine margins in epic Solberg WRC duel

Free practice 3: Williams again

In a late flurry of activity at the end of Saturday's first free practice session for the Italian Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya continued to underline the Williams-BMWs as the cars to beat by comfortably topping the time sheets ahead of Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari

Following heavy overnight rain, the teams were greeted with bright sunshine and a damp Monza track, causing most drivers to go out on intermediate tyres at the beginning of the session. However, a dry line soon developed and grooved rubber was the order of the day after the halfway point.

The Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen dominated the times for most of the session as the pair tried to make up for their lack of running yesterday (Friday) following an accident apiece in the first session.

However, with less than 10 minutes to go Montoya jumped to the number one slot with a lap of 1m25.558s, just under a second behind team mate Ralf Schumacher's fastest time from Friday.

While team leader Michael Schumacher completed just one installation lap, Barrichello did the rest of the Ferrari running and wound up just over three tenths behind Montoya in his black-nosed F2001.

Pedro de la Rosa continued his pace from Friday and finished third fastest for Jaguar, which has decided to follow Ferrari's lead and run with a blacked out engine cover as a mark of respect for the American tragedies.

Next up were the BAR-Hondas of Jacques Villeneuve and Oiliver Panis, with 1997 world champion Villeneuve leading the way in fourth spot. After leading the way early on, Raikkonen finished sixth just ahead of Eddie Irvine in the second Jaguar.

With the track continuing to dry out, much more activity can be expected in the second session as drivers put the finishing touches to their set-ups before qualifying at 1200 BST.

For full results click here.

Previous article Saturday First Free Practice - Italian GP
Next article Saturday Second Free Practice - Italian GP

Top Comments