© Vladimir Rys2024 Italian Grand Prix - Free Practice ReportMixed results for the Bulls in sessions blighted by red flags
TwointerruptedsessionsbyredflagsmeantaslowstarttotheweekendforMaxandChecoonthefirstdayoftheItalianGrandPrixweekend.
Max was able to finish top of the timesheet in the earlier session, but only finished P14 in the Free Practice Two as the Team focused on race-simulation laps. Checo, finished P9 in FP1 and P15 in FP2.
There were lots of questions to be answered in FP1 as the Monza track had been resurfaced since last year’s race and the curbs had also been made higher, but any early concern was quickly dispelled in the blistering heat as times tumbled throughout the session. The track temperature was pushing the mercury to 51˚ C, meaning that the tyre degradation was going to be high at the Temple of Speed, but the Bulls were keen to get out of the garage and start clocking in some laps.
Sergio Getting Ready at Monza© Oracle Red Bull Racing
Max and Checo headed out on the red-rimmed soft tyre for the start of the session. For the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, Pirelli has chosen the C5 – the softest in its range – for the soft tyre, which will offer maximum grip, but last the shortest amount of time.
Max had to abort his first two push laps after heading off track at turn one. The first time appeared to be driver error and the second was due to traffic getting in the way of his flying lap. On his third push lap, Max set a time of 1:24.693, which only placed him P6 at that point.
Checo had to abort his second flying lap due to the red flags being waved after Kimi Antonelli’s crash. The Italian rookie, making his debut with Mercedes, lost rear grip into the entrance of the Parabolica and took a ride through the gravel into the barriers. Antonelli was unhurt, but the stricken car had to be recovered, taking up a good chunk of time in the first practice session.
The session resumed with 37 minutes remaining and saw Max at the front of the queue, keen to get on track. Checo was also in line, and both had elected to use the same set of soft tyres for two more push laps.
The Bulls At Monza© Oracle Red Bull Racing
With 13 minutes remaining Checo appeared from the garage in his RB20 on a fresh set of soft tyres. He set a time of 1:22.361, placing him P8 at that time. He went for two slow laps but complained over the radio that his tyres were not cooling. He was able to get one final push lap in before the end of the session, but his time of 1:22.311 only saw him in P9 where he stayed after the chequered flag.
The time on the session had ticked down to nine minutes remaining when Max re-joined the action. He too was on a set on new soft tyres. His opening attempt stopped the clock at 1:21.676, placing him provisionally at the top of the timesheet. Max then returned to the pits for a front flap adjustment, he was able to set another flying lap, but it wasn’t any quicker than his previous attempt.
That attempt however was good enough to see him finish top, 0.228s ahead of Charles Leclerc who finished in second and 0.241s ahead of third placed Lando Norris.
The Bulls weren’t so eager to hit the track in the latter session of the day, with Max not leaving the garage until 5 minutes into the session, and Checo didn’t leave the pit lane for the first 25 minutes.
Max & Sergio at the Garage© Oracle Red Bull Racing
Max was on a fresh set of the C4 medium tyres. He backed out of his first push lap and after two cooldown laps, he pushed again setting a time of 1:21.610, placing him in P3 at that point in the session. Max then returned to the pits to prepare for his qualifying run. Whilst Max was in the garage Checo arrived on track, also on medium tyres. He completed a push lap with a time of 1:21.718, placing him P12.
Max then came out on soft tyres to set a qualifying simulation lap, but once again aborted his first push lap. Before he had a chance to go again, Kevin Magnussen’s Haas stepped out at turn seven and saw the Danish driver collide with the barrier causing the red flags to be waved and the session to be halted.
Round The Bend© Oracle Red Bull Racing
There was just 17 minutes remaining in the session when the track reopened. Max returned to the action on his used medium tyres for some high-fuel, data-gathering laps. Checo had fresh softs to practice his qualifying pace, setting a time of 1:21.678 on his push lap, placing him P14 on that run because of traffic getting in the way in the third sector. With time running out he couldn’t try again and returned to the garage.
At the end of the session Max had completed 13 timed laps and Checo had only been able to do 5. They finished the session in P14 and P15 respectively. Lewis Hamilton finished the session top of the timesheet with a time of 1:20.738, Lando Norris was second and Carlos Sainz finished the day in third.
