Thursday, May 22, 2008
# posted by Rich @ 1:03 PM
Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco 2008: Thursday Practice 1
As is customary, P1 and P2 are held on the Thursday rather than the Friday. The change of routine didn't upset Kimi Raikkonen - he topped the time sheet with a time of 1:15.948, besting the two McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen by three tenths of a second. Felipe Massa was fourth fastest, ahead of Nico Rosberg, who looked at home driving around the Monaco circuit. Hamilton was initially the quickest driver, but the session was red-flagged 15 minutes in due to a loose drain cover on the run up the hill to Massanet. After the session resumed, Raikkonen subsequently set the fastest time.
The pace of the Ferraris was a little unexpected - the traditional wisdom was that they went to Monaco with a slight disadvantage to the McLarens. However, this was only the first practice session, and there is a long way to go in the weekend yet. There were fewer surprises for the Renaults though - Alonso was 7th fastest, which is probably about all he can hope for in the race this weekend, while Nelsinho Piquet was mired down in 18th place. The young Brazilian was clearly struggling, and was having several wayward moments. Another man who struggles was Jarno Trulli - a former Monaco Grand PRix winner - who clouted the barrier and broke his suspension. It was also not a good session for Nick Heidfeld, who had to park his car at Casino Square with an engine failure. Worse befell David Coulthard however - he suffered technical difficulties and failed to even set a time.
Lap TImes
The pace of the Ferraris was a little unexpected - the traditional wisdom was that they went to Monaco with a slight disadvantage to the McLarens. However, this was only the first practice session, and there is a long way to go in the weekend yet. There were fewer surprises for the Renaults though - Alonso was 7th fastest, which is probably about all he can hope for in the race this weekend, while Nelsinho Piquet was mired down in 18th place. The young Brazilian was clearly struggling, and was having several wayward moments. Another man who struggles was Jarno Trulli - a former Monaco Grand PRix winner - who clouted the barrier and broke his suspension. It was also not a good session for Nick Heidfeld, who had to park his car at Casino Square with an engine failure. Worse befell David Coulthard however - he suffered technical difficulties and failed to even set a time.
Lap TImes
| Pos. | Driver | Time | Difference | Pos | Driver | Time | Difference |
| 1. | Raikkonen | 1:15.948 | 11. | Glock | 1:17.942 | + 1.994 | |
| 2. | Hamilton | 1:16.216 | + 0.268 | 12. | Button | 1:18.153 | + 2.205 |
| 3. | Kovalainen | 1:16.248 | + 0.3 | 13. | Bourdais | 1:18.245 | + 2.297 |
| 4. | Massa | 1:16.292 | + 0.344 | 14. | Heidfeld | 1:18.263 | + 2.315 |
| 5. | Rosberg | 1:16.653 | + 0.705 | 15. | Nakajima | 1:18.274 | + 2.326 |
| 6. | Kubica | 1:16.834 | + 0.886 | 16. | Trulli | 1:18.360 | + 2.412 |
| 7. | Alonso | 1:17.498 | + 1.55 | 17. | Sutil | 1:18.360 | + 2.412 |
| 8. | Barrichello | 1:17.511 | + 1.563 | 18. | Piquet | 1:18.955 | + 3.007 |
| 9. | Webber | 1:17.798 | + 1.85 | 19. | Vettel | 1:19.176 | + 3.228 |
| 10. | Fisichella | 1:17.835 | + 1.887 | 20. | Coulthard |
Labels: Formula 1, Grand Prix, Monaco
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