Spaniard Carlos Sainz set the fastest time during the last practice session for the GP of Italy. In the Ferrari, Sainz was a fraction faster than Max Verstappen.
We’re green for our final practice session of the weekend
Lance Stroll is eager to get out after virtually no running on Friday
Follow along https://t.co/MddmLh3lbF#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/U1fNgiOtqS
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 2, 2023
The third practice session offered the drivers a very last chance to prepare as well as possible for qualifying and the race. Especially Lance Stroll wanted to get on track as soon as possible. The Canadian hadn’t driven a single decent lap yet, after a technical problem during the second practice session. During the first practice session, he had given up his car to test and reserve driver Felipe Drugovich.
Friday’s top man @Carlossainz55 waves to the adoring Tifosi!
They’ll be hoping for a repeat on Saturday afternoon #ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/6asYLBIKZ1
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 2, 2023
On Friday, Carlos Sainz had set the fastest time, which undoubtedly made Ferrari fans dream of a strong result in qualifying and the race. All drivers had to find the limits of the track and their car as best they could on the high-speed circuit. Lewis Hamilton experienced that this is not easy even for a seven-time F1 champion.
A tricky start to the session for Hamilton, who runs wide at Turn 1
But he gathers it up for the next lap and goes P3 #ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5DacPdWcvB
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 2, 2023
In recent years we have seen a lot of ‘traffic’ problems on the Monza circuit. We also often saw ‘tactical games’ during qualifying, with deliberately very slow driving at the end of a qualifying section. This practice session showed that the same problems can be feared during qualifying.
AM: “Cars behind are slow”
ALO: “Everyone is slow… they will have a bad surprise in qualfiying!”
Fernando’s predicting qualifying games in 2023#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/FVcivekP3s
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 2, 2023
With a few minutes left on the clock, Valtteri Bottas went through the gravel trap in the Alfa Romeo F1 car. Not ideal, but otherwise it remained without serious consequences.
Finns are born to drive on gravel… just not at F1 circuits #ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/kBLoAwKQG0
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 2, 2023
In the end, Carlos Sainz was again the fastest in the Ferrari, but Max Verstappen was only a handful of thousandths behind Sainz. The rest of the field followed by more than half a second. Will Carlos Sainz and Ferrari surprise by taking pole position for the Italian GP?