Italy – Free Practice 3: Hamilton by a Thousandth

The weather is beautiful and warm in Monza this morning as the lights turn green at the end of the pit lane. The thermometer reads 25°C in the air and 33°C on the track. As usual, the drivers complete an installation lap before returning to their pits.

We must therefore wait a little before seeing the serious action begin with the exit of the two Force India cars while there are 48 minutes left in this final practice session. The fastest lap keeps changing hands: Di Resta, Räikkönen, and Pérez successively improve the benchmark time during the opening minutes of running. The Mexican completes a lap in 1:25.508. The time is improved a few minutes later by the two McLarens, very spirited here, with Hamilton leading Button at 1:25.165.

At mid-session, Fernando Alonso brings back the smile to Luca di Montezemolo by taking the second fastest provisional time of the session. Massa quickly follows suit, moving up from 13th position to 5th place, just 0.1 seconds behind his teammate.

The Spaniard continues his effort and passes in front of Hamilton’s McLaren with 1:24.632 against 1:24.687 for the Englishman, while Nico Rosberg enters the Top 3 with 25 minutes left in the session.

In the final minutes of this morning session, Paul di Resta sets the 3rd fastest time while Fernando Alonso drives in the point at the front with a time of 1:24.579, almost immediately improved by Hamilton with a 1:24.578. Felipe Massa also improves and moves ahead of Button’s McLaren. There are 5 minutes left in this Free Practice 3.

After Alonso yesterday morning, it’s Sebastian Vettel’s turn to stop his car in the final moments of the session. The session ends with Hamilton ahead of Alonso by 1 thousandth. Paul di Resta is third ahead of Massa and Button. Once again, the gaps are quite small, which promises an exciting qualifying session that will be broadcast live on MotorsInside shortly before 2 PM.

Free Practice 3 Results of the Italian Grand Prix: