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[bud]

Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug is convinced Sunday's Italian Grand Prix is likely to be the closest of the season.

The configuration of the Monza circuit - four high-speed straights punctuated by two hard-braking chicanes - makes it unique on the Formula One calendar.

McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen should be amongst the favourites as their cars are fitted with KERS, the device that provides a power boost at the touch of a button.

Given the chicanes, Monza will afford the KERS cars - Ferrari and Renault will also be equipped - the chance to use the system twice on one lap, and so seemingly offer a significant advantage.

Yet the fact the sport has enjoyed six different winners at the last six races underlines how closely contested F1 is these days.

Haug said: "Together with Monaco, Monza is the most untypical Formula One track.

"But whilst Monaco is a street course with the lowest average speed, Monza is a high-speed circuit at more than 250kph average, whilst the top speed in the dry will probably exceed 350kph this year.

"During the forthcoming race we will possibly see the closest field in Formula One history.

"Spa has shown the current Formula One is good for big surprises, and Monza will possibly underline this again."

Although Mercedes supply engines to championship leaders Brawn and improving Force India after the team broke their F1 points duck at Spa, Mercedes' natural affinity is with McLaren.

It is why Haug talks collectively when referring to McLaren, their partnership now stretching to 15 years, and his belief the team can still do more this season.

"Our target is to continue our upward trend," said Haug.

"After Lewis' win and second place in Budapest and Valencia, we were not where we wanted to be in Spa, even after Heikki managed to come home sixth from 15th on the grid.

"What is positive is, despite Lewis's accident on lap one through no fault of his own, no other team has scored more points from the last four races than Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

"In the remaining five races we will build on this with a healthy ambition, although without seeing us being the favourites for Monza.

"There will be at least a handful of teams, which is first class for the sport."

[EwanM]

Alonso backs Renault's focus shift

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Thursday, September 10th 2009, 13:53 GMT

Fernando Alonso has backed Renault's decision to stop developing this year's car and focus on the 2010 machine instead.

The French squad stopped developing new parts for the R29 car two races ago, meaning Alonso will face the five remaining grands prix with the same equipment.

Alonso has scored just 16 points this season, with Renault having not proved competitive enough to fight near the front.

That is why the Spaniard believes Renault has made the right decision in shifting its focus to 2010 early.

"I think many teams have stopped, same as last year," Alonso told reporters at Monza. "When you are not fighting for the championship or for important things it's maybe a good thing to stop so you have time to prepare next year's car.

"I think it's a good thing what Renault did."

The two-time champion remains hopeful, however, that he may be able to give his team its first podium of the season in the upcoming races.

Although Alonso, who won two races at the end of last season, is aware that it will not be an easy to repeat the task.

"This year will be more difficult because I remember last year the team was pushing until the end," he said.

"And this year the team decided to stop the development of the car two races ago, so we will have exactly the same car for the remaining races, so we know how quick we are and it will be difficult to have a magic step forward without any new parts in the car.

"It will be more difficult this year, but I think we can still have some podiums. We were very close in Hungary, close in Spa. I'm sure we will have more opportunism, but I know it's going to be more difficult than last year."

[EwanM]

So we didn't learn too much from First Practice, only that McLaren look very fast - especially with Hamilton.

However, as with every weekend, we can't start making proper predictions until Saturday morning. Certainly Sutil continued to show Force India's performance, but we know that he tails off as the weekend goes on.

Fisichella appeared to struggle at first, but then began to improve as the session went on, a respectable 8th for the Italian. Beat that Badoer.

The new kerbs look dumb, but they will hopefully catch a few drivers out and create a bit of drama.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:23.936 26
2. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:24.332 + 0.396 27
3. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:24.471 + 0.535 24
4. Alonso Renault (B) 1:24.477 + 0.541 21
5. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:24.683 + 0.747 25
6. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:24.703 + 0.767 35
7. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:24.706 + 0.770 21
8. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:24.732 + 0.796 24
9. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:24.759 + 0.823 19
10. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:24.761 + 0.825 26
11. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:24.813 + 0.877 20
12. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:24.826 + 0.890 24
13. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:24.927 + 0.991 29
14. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:25.150 + 1.214 28
15. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:25.612 + 1.676 18
16. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:25.689 + 1.753 29
17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:25.742 + 1.806 30
18. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:25.951 + 2.015 8
19. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:26.020 + 2.084 23
20. Glock Toyota (B) 1:26.325 + 2.389 17

[awesomerusty]

Just watched it,its interesting that Renault and India-Mercedes:one driver did not bad but the other one..

[EwanM]

Just watched it,its interesting that Renault and India-Mercedes:one driver did not bad but the other one..

Well Luizzi wasn't too bad, I think he'll get quicker. Hopefully the same will apply to Grosjean. Certainly Alonso looks fast, again we won't know till later on this weekend.


Moments from Practice 1 -

#1 Due to his engine problems, Sebastian Vettel had to sit out most of the practice session. However to the amusement of his mechanics and the watching F1 media, Vettel walked into the garage, sat down and crossed his legs, and began reading a novel. Or possibly a colouring book. (The jury is still out on what he was actually reading. Was it the War and Peace or The Cat in the Hat?)

#2 In an interview with Five Live's Woman-who-shall-not-be-named-due-to-her-annoying-ness, Christian Horner revealed that Sebastian Vettel does a fantastic impression of Kimi Raikkonen - hopefully we'll get to see it soon. (Surely the BEEB has to get that on camera? That would make the license fee -all £142.50 of the bugger - worth paying)

#3 Crofty and Davidson were plagued by a swarm of Wasps throughout first practice. Whereas Ant was trying to carry on commentating about the track action, Crofty became obsessed with the Wasps - giving them names and talking about them for a considerable time. (Hopefully Maurice Hamilton doesn't have the same patience as Anthony and gets wound up by Croft and his new "pets". Maybe Hamilton could take the wasp spray and spray it on Croft?)

#4 In a seemingly happier mood, it was revealed that before this morning's practice Rob Smedley decided to get physical with the BBC's Ted Kravitz. The Ferrari engineer gave Kravitz a full blown shoulder barge before smirking off into the back of the garage.

#5 Anthony Davidson also had a difficult time trying to explain to David Croft that the term "helmet-sucking" (yes I know it says ducking but that's the swear filter, replace D with S) isn't a sick joke, but an actual term used by the drivers' to describe the G-forces felt around their head during heavy braking.

[Taran]

Hmmmm the Toyota's dont look on form....once again!

Come on Sutil though! Finally you may get that result you are looking for!

[bud]

Fisi's adapted well at Ferrari there, setting a slightly quicker time than Kimi.

[vaptin]

does look like the maccas are strong, and fingers crossed for force india again.

Very good on fisi as well.

[EwanM]

Schumacher to stay on at Ferrari

Michael Schumacher has extended his contract as a consultant at Ferrari for another three years, with particular focus on the development of road cars.

The German only last month abandoned plans to return to the track for the first time in nearly three years as stand-in for the injured Felipe Massa.

But the seven-time world champion will continue the consultancy role he first took up in 2007 until 2012.

"I have always been happy to be part of the Ferrari family," he said.

"We agreed that I will give my input more and more into the GT-department, the area of the road-cars.

"I already enjoyed a lot participating in the development of the Ferrari California, the 430 Scuderia and the new 458 Italia, which we will present next Tuesday at the Frankfurt Motorshow, and so I very much look forward to participating in future projects.

"The name Ferrari for me symbolises passion, quality and highest sportiness."

The 40-year-old had been due to step in to the driver's seat for the first time since his retirement at the end of 2006 after Massa was sidelined by serious head injuries he sustained in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying in July.

However, a neck injury thwarted his plans, forcing Ferrari to first hand test driver Luca Badoer the seat before settling on Force India's driver Giancarlo Fisichella for the remainder of the season.

That meant Schumacher returned to the consultancy role he has enjoyed since 2007.

He first acted as a Ferrari advisor to then chief executive Jean Todt before moving on to car development in 2008.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1 ... 250452.stm

Published: 2009/09/11 10:55:22 GMT

© BBC MMIX

[Rusko]

practice 1 was ok, it's a shame about vettel though. we aren't going to see much of him on fridays for the rest of the season. i have to admit although it's early days i'm pleased with how quick the mclarens look

[Gaz]

LOL@ Fisi beating Kimi

Mclaren #1 + #2

GET IN THERE!!!

[f1ea]

It seems Lewis / Mclaren will do very well. Regardless of "pratice times" and so on.... Alonso also tends to do very well in Monza. But i think the most important (for tha championship's sake!) is what happens to Red Bull's reliability/engines and Brawn's form.

The championship race is still open, but it would be kinda dull to have it decided by Red Bull's blown engines and Brawn's up and down form......

Kimi's not really that good around Monza, so who knows, maybe Fisi beats him. Payback for Spa and Japan 05 i'm sure Fisi still dreams of those moves Kimi pulled on him...

Monza is definitely a nice atmosphere. Lots of big announcements and stuff... its a cool track, more or less F1's attempt at an oval it's not Spa, but gotta love those fast chicanes!

[Taran]

Well done to Sutil after practice 2! Poor Fisi!

[EwanM]

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:23.924 28
2. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:24.163 + 0.239 31
3. Alonso Renault (B) 1:24.297 + 0.373 35
4. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:24.482 + 0.558 41
5. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:24.622 + 0.698 40
6. Glock Toyota (B) 1:24.634 + 0.710 36
7. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:24.693 + 0.769 34
8. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:24.796 + 0.872 39
9. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:24.799 + 0.875 36
10. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:24.884 + 0.960 44
11. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:24.902 + 0.978 32
12. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:24.921 + 0.997 39
13. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:24.967 + 1.043 40
14. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:24.979 + 1.055 25
15. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:25.003 + 1.079 34
16. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:25.140 + 1.216 35
17. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:25.215 + 1.291 38
18. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:25.386 + 1.462 27
19. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:25.424 + 1.500 32
20. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:25.543 + 1.619 36

[Jabberwocky]

maybe Badoer has cursed the car lol