FP3: Hamilton outpaces Rosberg at Monza
Final practice for the Italian Grand Prix belonged to Lewis Hamilton as he was almost four-tenths up on his team-mate Nico Rosberg.
Saturday’s final practice began with good and bad news for Haas as Esteban Gutierrez and Romain Grosjean ran the early 1-2 (even though just seven drivers had set lap times) only for Grosjean’s session to come to a premature halt.
He hit the inside kerb, which pitched his VF16 into a spin that left the Frenchman stranded in the gravel at Ascari. “I’m stuck in the gravel,” was his explanation.
When the Mercedes driver it was an immediate change at the top with Hamilton clocking a 1:22.856.
Rosberg’s first flying lap was ruined by Max Verstappen as he caught the slow Red Bull at the chicane. “What on earth was that?” asked Rosberg.
His second flier put him P3 as Mercedes were challenged by the Ferraris with Sebastian Vettel second and Kimi Raikkonen fourth. The Scuderia drivers, though, were on the supersofts to Mercedes’ softs.
Swapping to the supersoft tyres Rosberg crossed the line with a 1:22.401 before Hamilton hit back. Up in the first sector, and the second, and the third, the Brit retook P1 with a 1:22.008.
Vettel was third as he put in a run of personal best sectors times to seal third place. He was, however, 0.938s off the pace. Raikkonen was fourth, a further two-tenths off the pace.
Williams put in a better showing to finish fifth and sixth with Valtteri Bottas ahead of Felipe Massa while Red Bull lined up next with Daniel Ricciardo 0.031s quicker than Max Verstappen.
Sergio Perez and Gutierrez completed the top ten.
Times
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1’22.008 14 laps
2 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1’22.401 0.393 17 laps
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1’22.946 0.938 13 laps
4 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1’23.149 1.141 12 laps
5 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1’23.500 1.492 20 laps
6 Felipe Massa Williams 1’23.647 1.639 19 laps
7 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1’23.709 1.701 23 laps
8 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1’23.740 1.732 21 laps
9 Sergio Perez Force India 1’23.917 1.909 20 laps
10 Esteban Gutierrez Haas 1’24.034 2.026 15 laps
11 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1’24.041 2.033 21 laps
12 Jenson Button McLaren 1’24.104 2.096 11 laps
13 Carlos Sainz Jr. Toro Rosso 1’24.240 2.232 17 laps
14 Romain Grosjean Haas 1’24.463 2.455 4 laps
15 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1’24.533 2.525 13 laps
16 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1’24.542 2.534 20 laps
17 Fernando Alonso McLaren 1’24.658 2.650 12 laps
18 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1’24.715 2.707 19 laps
19 Kevin Magnussen Renault 1’24.793 2.785 12 laps
20 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1’24.845 2.837 17 laps
21 Pascal Wehrlein Manor 1’24.893 2.885 19 laps
22 Esteban Ocon Manor 1’24.938 2.930 15 laps