Lewis Hamilton headed the second Mercedes of George Russell in the final practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The number 44 Mercedes was quickest for the second consecutive practice session, Hamilton posting a best time just under a tenth of a second quicker than his team mate. Charles Leclerc was third fastest ahead of the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.It was a slightly cooler start to Saturday compared to Friday’s second practice session, but ambient temperatures were still over 30C when the final hour of practice began.
A slow start to the session saw only the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez take to the track of the top teams in the opening minutes. Using the medium compound tyres, Verstappen set the initial pace with a 1’21.560, a tenth quicker than his team mate.
The two Mercedes took to the track, Russell going quickest by three tenths over the Red Bulls, then Hamilton moving into second. Then it was the McLarens’ turn to head out, with both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris taking turns at the top of the times with their soft tyres.
Times continued to tumble as drivers found more speed around the new Monza surface. Leclerc put his Ferrari on top with a 1’20.614 on softs, while Russell improved on his used mediums to go second, just under a tenth behind.
Piastri had a moment on the exit of the second Lesmo, kicking up gravel as he ran wide, with Verstappen following suit soon after. Alexander Albon put his updated Williams to the top of the times on soft tyres, before he was displaced by Carlos Sainz Jnr.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Teams fitted fresh soft tyres for their qualifying simulation runs towards the end of the session. Hamilton went quickest of all with a 1’20.117, a time his team mate got within a tenth of. Verstappen was two tenths slower than Hamilton with his personal best push lap, complaining that his RB20 “wouldn’t turn.”
There were no improvements at the front of the field in the final minutes of the session with Hamilton ending the hour as the fastest driver ahead of Mercedes team mate Russell. Leclerc was third ahead of the two McLarens of Piastri and Norris with Verstappen in sixth and Sainz seventh. Albon was eighth ahead of his debuting team mate Franco Colapinto with Nico Hulkenberg tenth for Haas.
The stewards will investigate an incident involving Leclerc, Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo after the session. Piastri seemed to be caught out unaware that Leclerc was approaching him at the exit of the Lesmos and appeared to move aside to make way for Ricciardo behind him. Leclerc, who was alongside the McLaren at the time, had to take to the grass to avoid a collision, while Ricciardo had to slow down in response to the near-miss ahead.
After taking the chequered flag, Kevin Magnussen was given an urgent instruction to stop his Haas on track. He did so on the run to the Ascari chicane but did not disrupt the practice starts for his rivals.
2024 Italian Grand Prix third practice result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W15 | 1’20.117 | |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W15 | 1’20.210 | 0.093 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’20.226 | 0.109 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’20.252 | 0.135 |
| 5 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’20.262 | 0.145 |
| 6 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’20.368 | 0.251 |
| 7 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’20.463 | 0.346 |
| 8 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’20.596 | 0.479 |
| 9 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’20.905 | 0.788 |
| 10 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-24 | 1’20.943 | 0.826 |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’20.968 | 0.851 |
| 12 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’21.077 | 0.960 |
| 13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’21.141 | 1.024 |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’21.155 | 1.038 |
| 15 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’21.157 | 1.040 |
| 16 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-24 | 1’21.208 | 1.091 |
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’21.258 | 1.141 |
| 18 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’21.287 | 1.170 |
| 19 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’21.357 | 1.240 |
| 20 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’22.035 | 1.918 |
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2024 Italian Grand Prix combined practice times
| P. | # | Driver | Team | FP1 time | FP2 time | FP3 time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’22.214 | 1’20.117 | 24 | ||
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’21.086 | 1’20.210 | 0.093 | 20 | |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’21.904 | 1’20.892 | 1’20.226 | 0.109 | 49 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’22.199 | 1’20.858 | 1’20.252 | 0.135 | 47 |
| 5 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’21.917 | 1’20.741 | 1’20.262 | 0.145 | 49 |
| 6 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’21.676 | 1’21.610 | 1’20.368 | 0.251 | 43 |
| 7 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’22.126 | 1’20.841 | 1’20.463 | 0.346 | 51 |
| 8 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’22.220 | 1’21.592 | 1’20.596 | 0.479 | 49 |
| 9 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Williams-Mercedes | 1’22.880 | 1’21.784 | 1’20.905 | 0.788 | 43 |
| 10 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | 1’23.157 | 1’21.140 | 1’20.943 | 0.826 | 48 |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’22.315 | 1’21.316 | 1’20.968 | 0.851 | 42 |
| 12 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’22.605 | 1’21.300 | 1’21.077 | 0.960 | 44 |
| 13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’22.714 | 1’21.735 | 1’21.141 | 1.024 | 43 |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | 1’22.763 | 1’21.819 | 1’21.155 | 1.038 | 45 |
| 15 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’22.864 | 1’21.363 | 1’21.157 | 1.040 | 48 |
| 16 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’22.572 | 1’21.499 | 1’21.208 | 1.091 | 33 |
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’22.880 | 1’21.867 | 1’21.258 | 1.141 | 43 |
| 18 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’22.311 | 1’21.678 | 1’21.287 | 1.170 | 35 |
| 19 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’22.127 | 1’21.461 | 1’21.357 | 1.240 | 46 |
| 20 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’22.854 | 1’22.223 | 1’22.035 | 1.918 | 49 |
| 21 | 12 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1’23.955 | 3.838 | 5 |
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2024 Italian Grand Prix
- “Never had so much pain in a car”: How Colapinto impressed Williams on his debut
- F1’s most competitive season for 47 years? Four teams now have three wins each
- “Can I have my PU performance back?” – Verstappen’s “tough” Monza race on his radio
- FIA not changing front wing rules after Red Bull’s comments on rivals
- Norris “would love” number one status but won’t “beg someone to let me pass”
72defender (@72defender)
31st August 2024, 13:14
Mercedes look genuinely quick here! Hoping it translates tomorrow into a 1-2!
72defender (@72defender)
31st August 2024, 13:18
Was Perez running a different program than Max? Seems a long way off!
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
31st August 2024, 13:51
1 sec behind in free practice is pretty normal for him, he’s even further off the pace than he is in a decent quali for him.
David BR (@david-br)
31st August 2024, 14:02
@esploratore1 I always presume 6-7 tenths off Verstappen’s pace now, but it may even be increasing.
Nick T.
31st August 2024, 16:18
Perez ended up looking like he matched Max, but Max was 6 tenths quicker until the little moment in Parabolica. Then on his final lap Perez screwed up his lap and gave him tons of dirty air. Either way, no way the second lap was ever going to be better than 5th. It just should have been a lot faster.
David BR (@david-br)
31st August 2024, 14:01
Verstappen may well work some magic and get on the front row. But then? Can he win a podium at least or does he end up in P6 or P7 at the end of the race? And can Norris/McLaren take pole and the win to maximize the points haul? Norris reeling in Verstappen in a few races (4-5 is the minimum I guess) would be fantastic for the season finale. But I suspect Ferrari and Mercedes have other ideas.