Date published:September 7
Wet or dry, it made no difference to Ferrari as they set the pace in Saturday’s final practice at Monza, this time with Sebastian Vettel up in P1.
Saturday’s final practice at Monza began with the pit lane exit light staying on red after the FIA made a late call to remove the sausage kerbs at Parabolicafollowing a scary crash for Alex Peroniduring the morning’s Formula 3 race.
The Campos Racing driver was launched into the air and crashed into the catch fence, which also required attention.
After an accident in@ FIAFormula3Race One, the pit exit will remain closed whilst the track is cleared# F1# ItalianGP🇮🇹pic.twitter.com/vyy8ZaLDWj*****
– Formula 1 (@ F1)September 7, 2019
The repairs were completed and the track green-lighted ten minutes into the hour-long FP3 session.
Lando Norris was the first man out,taking to the track with a new Renault engine powering his McLaren, with the drivers taking advantage of the dry track and quickly laying down lap times.
Carlos Sainz went P1 with a 1: 21 .9 before shaving two-tenths off his time while Daniil Kvyat lined up second in the Toro Rosso before going quickly.
It was, however, all change at the top as Sebastian Vettel left the pits in his soft-tyred Ferrari. A 1: 20. 6 for the German with Charles Leclerc up to second, 0.3s down.
Romain Grosjean wasthe first to fall foul of the Parabolica track limits, losing his lap time as he put all four wheels off the track. It also meant his following lap’s time didn’t count. Kevin Magnussen followed suit.
Romain Grosjean’s time of 1: 22. 479 has been deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 11# F1# ItalianGP (🇮🇹) pic.twitter.com/FBs9HQtxsP
– Formula 1 (@ F1)September 7, 2019
Leclerc leapfrogged Vettel for P1, 0.1s ahead of his team-mate, with Daniel Ricciardo up to third as Mercedes prepared for a second run with tire warmers on Hamilton’s front tires but blowing cold air on the rears.
Max Verstappen was the last of the runners to post a time, his first attempt – halfway through the session – P3 on the soft Pirellis as he grabbed a tow off Valtteri Bottas and crossed the line with a 1: 20 .8.
His team-mate Alexander Albon joined the list of those running wide at Turn 11 and lost his lap time – twice.
Hamilton returned to the track, taking third place, while Bottas, out on a set of medium tires, was only good enough for 10 th place as he continued working on race pace.
“This is your pilot, Valtteri Bottas, speaking”# F1# ItalianGP🇮🇹pic.twitter.com/5gNPq0OfAU
– Formula 1 (@ F1)September 7, 2019
There was a brief lull in the action before the drivers returned to the track, putting in a last-gasp qualifying simulation.
Ferrari were the first out, running in formation with Leclerc ahead of Vettel. The Monaco driver laid down a 1: 20. 452 with Vettel responding with a 1: 20. 331 to take P1. Leclerc, though, lost his time for running wide at Parabolica.
The tow game,predicted by Mercedes ahead of the weekend, began in the final 10 minutes as the drivers all tried not to be first, instead lining up behind one another.
That, though, wasn’t enough to dethrone Ferrari with Vettel going faster still with a 1: 20. .
Verstappen was second, 0. 032 s down, while Bottas and Leclerc posted the exact same time. The Finn did his first so grabbed P3.
Daniel Ricciardo was fifth for Renault ahead of Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg, Albon, Antonio Giovinazzi and Kvyat.
Times
1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1: 20. 294
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull 0. (s) 3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 0. 109 s
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 0. 109 s
5 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 0. (s) 6 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 0. 301 s
7 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 0. 458 s
8 Alex Albon Red Bull 0. 533 s
9 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing 0. 587 s
10 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 0. 651 s
11 Carlos Sainz McLaren 0. s
12 Sergio Perez Racing Point 0. s
13 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 0. 779 s
14 Lando Norris McLaren 0. 998 s 21
15 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo Racing 1. S
16 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1. 042 s
17 Romain Grosjean Haas 1. 327 s
18 Lance Stroll Racing Point 1. 345 s
19 George Russell Williams 2. (s) 20 Robert Kubica Williams 2. 464 s
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