UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Sutil stars in second session

Force India heads Renault

Second qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix in the glorious Monza sunshine served only to confuse, for while the McLaren team had it all their own way this morning things were somewhat different at the end of this ninety minute session.

The final order saw Adrian Sutil continuing the fine run for Force India with the only time of the session under 1:24 – 1: 23.924 to be exact, a very similar time to that set by Lewis Hamilton this morning, and the orange, green and white car looked stable, quick and assured all session.

No KERS on the Force India of course, and a new team mate too with Tonio Liuzzi the last man within a second of Sutil down in 12th position.

We will return to the top ten in a moment but the genuine intrigue is with the championship contending teams Brawn and Red Bull. Fastest of the quartet was Mark Webber for Red Bull, and taking into consideration that he finished the session 14th – albeit after an electrical problem hindered his early running – there is cause for concern there, Friday or otherwise.

Sebastian Vettel managed only 18th position in the second blue car, while Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button set 16th and 19th fastest times respectively. To reiterate, while this is just a Friday practice session, such results must be cause for at least some concern in both camps – we wait with interest to see what tomorrow brings.

Back to the front and second and third places went to the two Renaults, with both Romain Grosjean – ahead – and Fernando Alonso revelling in KERS and light fuel loads to set times a tenth a part and with the second place over two tenths down on Sutil's best effort, while fourth – with another late run – went to Heikki Kovalainen in the McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton did not have a great session and set the 11th best time, but still looked super aggressive over the kerbs, and BMW showed signs of some promise with Robert Kubica fifth and Nick Heidfeld in seventh place.

Sixth went to Timo Glock for Toyota – team mate Jarno Trulli back in 13th – while the remaining top ten positions went to Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari – not great for him – Kazuki Nakajima’s Williams and Sebastien Buemi in the STR.

What of the man fulfilling his dream, Giancarlo Fisichella on his debut for Ferrari? After the fine showing this morning in which he ultimately went faster than Raikkonen, the Italian came home where his predecessor spent all of his time in the last two outings – last, and 1.6 seconds down on the fastest time: not what he, or Ferrari, would have expected.

What happens tomorrow is anyone’s guess but it would be a surprise not to see Adrian Sutil towards the very front of the grid: perhaps Fisichella is regretting an emotional decision.

Written: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:46:12