Event: Italian Grand Prix
Track: Monza Circuit

Weather: dry  25°C
Tarmac: dry  36°C
Humidity : 53%
Wind : 1.0 km/h S
Pressure: 998 mbar

Verstappen Tops First Practice Session at 2023 Italian F1 GP

The first practice session for the 2023 Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix took place today at the historic Monza circuit. After a series of wet sessions in previous races, the teams finally enjoyed dry conditions, allowing them to gather valuable data and test various upgrades.

The weather outlook was promising, with a 0% chance of rain during the session. This was a relief for the teams, as uninterrupted running was crucial for testing upgrades and collecting data for the upcoming races, including thoughts of the 2024 season.

The session saw Max Verstappen, the man of the moment, continuing his impressive form. He equaled Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins in the previous race and now aims to set a new record with a remarkable 10th consecutive victory. Verstappen’s performance has been a combination of impeccable race craft, car reliability, strategic pit stops, and managing various weather conditions.

In other news, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo was absent from the cockpit due to a hand injury, allowing Liam Lawson to take his place at AlphaTauri for this session. This weekend also brought major announcements from Mercedes regarding their driver lineup for 2024 and 2025. Lewis Hamilton confirmed his stay with the team for at least two more seasons, and he will be joined by George Russell. This solidifies Mercedes’ lineup and keeps Hamilton in the sport beyond his 40th birthday.

As the session began, Lando Norris from McLaren hit the track with notable aero rakes on his car, indicating the team’s focus on aerodynamic testing. The tire choice for this weekend was on the softer end of the spectrum compared to the previous race in Zandvoort, with Pirelli supplying the C3, C4, and C5 rubber compounds.

Monza’s unique characteristics demand a low downforce setup, favouring high speeds on the straights. However, finding the right balance is crucial to maintain cornering performance. Pierre Gasly’s and Daniel Ricciardo’s past successes here prove the unpredictability of the Italian circuit.

The session also reintroduced the ‘Alternative Tyre Allocation’ system, where drivers must use different tire compounds in each qualifying session. Ferrari showcased a tweaked livery with accents of yellow, while Alfa Romeo unveiled a patriotic livery.

During the session, some drivers faced technical challenges. Both Alfa Romeo drivers experienced issues, with Zhou and Bottas encountering problems at the end of the pit lane. Verstappen dominated the timing sheets with a fast lap on hard tires, closely followed by Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez.

Halfway the session the top 10 order was: 1. Max Verstappen – 1:22.657 (H),2. Sergio Pérez +0.297 (H), 3. Charles Leclerc +0.309 (H), 4. Carlos Sainz +0.329 (H), 5. Fernando Alonso +0.577 (M) 6. Lando Norris +0.584 (S), 7. Lewis Hamilton +0.612 (H), 8. Oscar Piastri +0.789 (S), 9. George Russell +0.828 (H) & 10. Alex Albon +1.240 (S).

Teams experimented with different strategies, and the drivers focused on gathering data for setup adjustments and understanding tire behavior. Verstappen remained on top throughout the session, showcasing Red Bull’s potential for the weekend. The session highlighted the teams’ adaptation to the Alternative Tyre Allocation and their preparation for the unique challenges of Monza’s high-speed layout.

The first practice session concluded with Verstappen leading the pack, closely followed by Sainz and Perez. As teams analyze the data gathered, they prepare for the second practice session scheduled for later in the day. The pecking order appears unpredictable, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of racing action at the 2023 Italian F1 Grand Prix.

The quickest lap time of last year’s FP1 was a 1:22.416 min, set by Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari F1-75 on soft tyres.

FP1 Times Table 2023 Italian GP

P	No	Driver	Team	Time	1st Gap	Laps	Tyres
1	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1:22,657		30	H
2	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	1:22,703	+0,046s	27	H
3	11	Sergio Pérez	Red Bull	1:22,834	+0,177s	29	H
4	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:22,966	+0,309s	21	H
5	63	George Russell	Mercedes	1:23,189	+0,532s	27	M
6	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:23,214	+0,557s	23	S
7	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:23,241	+0,584s	21	H
8	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:23,269	+0,612s	25	S
9	22	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	1:23,271	+0,614s	22	S
10	23	Alex Albon	Williams	1:23,444	+0,787s	17	S
11	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:23,446	+0,789s	23	S
12	2	Logan Sargeant	Williams	1:23,661	+1,004s	20	S
13	40	Liam Lawson	AlphaTauri	1:23,833	+1,176s	28	S
14	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:23,931	+1,274s	25	S
15	77	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo	1:23,952	+1,295s	16	S
16	27	Nico Hülkenberg	Haas	1:24,067	+1,410s	22	M
17	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	1:24,090	+1,433s	15	S
18	34	Felipe Drugovich	Aston Martin	1:24,140	+1,483s	23	M
19	20	Kevin Magnussen	Haas	1:24,217	+1,560s	23	M
20	24	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo	1:24,232	+1,575s	16	S

Don’t forget to check out our 2023 Italian F1 Grand Prix preview info.

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