Monaco F1 GP 2008 - Testing

Practice 1
It’s game on in Monaco with Thursday free practice, yes Thursday and no rain (yet). So far after all times in, the leader board doesn’t look all that different than other races. Kimi Raikkonen came out big on top with Hamilton right behind and Kovalainen rounding the top 3. Ouch, it was Jarno Trulli who was introduced to one of the walls first damaging his rear suspension. It was the first day for the new Toro Rosso STR3 and more of a 2nd shakedown than anything with Boardais 13th and Vettel 19th. Tech trouble today belonged to Nick Heidfeld and David Coulthard. Does Nelson Piquet ever need his dad now. If this is indicative of what he will do in the race, he may not have too much time left in F1.

I’m still hoping for dry weather for the race so we can have a good one without millions of dollars of car parts littering the track and at least half the field finishing the race.

1. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 01:15.948
2. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes 01:16.216
3. Heikki Kovalainen Finland McLaren-Mercedes 01:16.248
4. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari-Ferrari 01:16.292
5. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Toyota 01:16.653
6. Robert Kubica Poland BMW Sauber 01:16.834
7. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault 01:17.498
8. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda-Honda 01:17.511
9. Mark Webber Australia Red Bull-Renault 01:17.798
10. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Force India-Ferrari 01:17.835
11. Timo Glock Germany Toyota-Toyota 01:17.942
12. Jenson Button Britain Honda-Honda 01:18.153
13. Sebastien Bourdais France Toro Rosso-Ferrari 01:18.245
14. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW Sauber 01:18.263
15. Kazuki Nakajima Japan Williams-Toyota 01:18.274
16. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota-Toyota 01:18.360
17. Adrian Sutil Germany Force India-Ferrari 01:18.360
18. Nelson Piquet Jr Brazil Renault-Renault 01:18.955
19. Sebastian Vettel Germany Toro Rosso-Ferrari 01:19.176
20. David Coulthard Britain Red Bull-Renault no time

Practice 2

Both Renaults bit the Monaco wall in the 2nd practice session this afternoon in Monaco. First was Nelson Piquet who half-spun and kissed the tire barrier from the rear. At a slow pace or maybe his normal pace he managed to get back to the pits with a damaged rear wing. It’s not going well for Piquet.

Next was Fernando Alonso who almost repeated the same move Piquet did at Sainte Devote corner but he missed the tire barrier and kissed the wall. Despite Alonso’s brush with the wall, he did post 7th fastest time. That’s both Renaults into the wall and on to the body shop.

Next in line was Jarno Trulli who liked the wall so much this morning he decided to do it again although only slightly at the swimming pool.
Queue up another. Adrian Sutil took the front wing off of his Force India at the famous La Rascasse.

Of those who managed to go it unscathed Lewis Hamilton was tops on the chart 4 tenths ahead of a pretty fast Nico Rosberg. Have to check the fuel load in his car today. Nevertheless a good day for Nico in both sessions. Both Ferraris next in line followed by Heikki Kovalainen.

Jenson Button ran a good eighth with team mate Rubens Barrichello in 10th. Not bad for Honda on day one. Nick Heidfeld surprisingly ended the session with the 11th fastest time, but the ever present Robert Kubica Robert Kubica ran sixth.
Far to the back was Sebastian Vettel who hasn’t come to grips with the new Toro Rosso STR3, admitting that he is a bit lost in setting up the car.

One another note, there is one startled person in pit lane today who was strolling across and was almost hit by Lewis Hamilton as he exited his pit garage.

1. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes 01:15.140
2. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Toyota 01:15.533
3. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 01:15.572
4. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari-Ferrari 01:15.869
5. Heikki Kovalainen Finland McLaren-Mercedes 01:15.881
6. Robert Kubica Poland BMW Sauber 01:16.269
7. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault 01:16.310
8. Jenson Button Britain Honda-Honda 01:16.351
9. Kazuki Nakajima Japan Williams-Toyota 01:16.372
10. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda-Honda 01:16.418
11. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW Sauber 01:16.426
12. Timo Glock Germany Toyota-Toyota 01:16.688
13. Mark Webber Australia Red Bull-Renault 01:17.094
14. David Coulthard Britain Red Bull-Renault 01:17.131
15. Nelson Piquet Jr Brazil Renault-Renault 01:17.246
16. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Force India-Ferrari 01:17.251
17. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota-Toyota 01:17.379
18. Sebastien Bourdais France Toro Rosso-Ferrari 01:17.581
19. Adrian Sutil Germany Force India-Ferrari 01:18.176
20. Sebastian Vettel Germany Toro Rosso-Ferrari 01:18.225