The hallowed grounds of Monza, affectionately known as the ‘Temple of Speed,’ witnessed a commanding performance from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during the final practice session for the 2022 Italian Grand Prix. As teams made their ultimate preparations ahead of the crucial qualifying session, Verstappen demonstrated exceptional pace, clocking the fastest lap time of the day. His stellar performance placed him over three-tenths of a second clear of local hero Charles Leclerc, much to the delight of the passionate Tifosi in the grandstands, despite their allegiances.
Verstappen’s blistering best time of 1’21.252, achieved on the soft compound tyres, solidified his position at the top of the leaderboard. This impressive display, however, comes with a significant caveat: the reigning world champion is set to incur a five-place grid penalty following this evening’s qualifying session. This penalty adds an intriguing layer of strategy and anticipation to the weekend, as Verstappen and Red Bull will need to maximize their qualifying performance to mitigate the impact on Sunday’s race.
The afternoon in Monza remained consistently sunny and warm, providing ideal conditions for the final practice hour. Despite the conducive weather, teams were not in a desperate rush to hit the legendary circuit immediately. The opening ten minutes saw only a handful of drivers venture out, including Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull, Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas, and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, beginning their initial reconnaissance laps and system checks.
Verstappen’s Dominance and Early Incidents
It was Perez who initially set the benchmark, registering a respectable 1’22.148 on the medium tyres. Shortly after, Max Verstappen emerged from the Red Bull garage for his first competitive run of the day, also opting for the durable medium compound. Verstappen immediately showcased his intent, setting the quickest first sector time. However, his lap was compromised at the challenging Ascari chicane when he encountered the Mercedes of George Russell, who appeared to be on a slower lap. Verstappen, visibly frustrated, had to back out of his flying lap and promptly voiced his disapproval over the team radio, highlighting the ongoing challenge of traffic management on this high-speed circuit.
Undeterred by the minor impediment, Verstappen returned for another attempt, quickly demonstrating his superior pace. On his subsequent lap, he rocketed to the top of the timings, almost four-tenths faster than his teammate Perez, reaffirming his status as the driver to beat even with the impending grid penalty hanging over him. This early burst of speed underlined Red Bull’s strong package at Monza, a track known for demanding both outright power and precise aerodynamic efficiency.
The session was not without its moments of drama and concern for the stewards. Valtteri Bottas, pushing hard in his Alfa Romeo, was forced into evasive action at the Roggia chicane to avoid a potentially dangerous collision with Carlos Sainz Jnr’s Ferrari. Sainz, seemingly meandering on his out lap and not fully aware of Bottas’s rapid approach, caused a heart-stopping moment. Bottas deftly took to the escape road, preventing what could have been a significant incident. The stewards quickly announced that this close call was under investigation, signaling a potential penalty for the Ferrari driver, adding to the day’s unfolding narrative.
Debutants, Setbacks, and Strategic Preparations
The final practice session also marked a significant moment for Dutch driver Nyck de Vries. Following Williams’ confirmation that he would be replacing the unwell Alexander Albon for the remainder of the weekend, De Vries finally got his opportunity to pilot the Williams FW44 with approximately 35 minutes left on the clock. This impromptu debut presented a unique challenge for the young driver, who had only previously driven the Aston Martin in FP1, requiring him to adapt quickly to a completely different machinery and setup on one of Formula 1’s most demanding circuits.
While De Vries embarked on his learning curve, Haas driver Mick Schumacher faced a frustrating afternoon. A persistent clutch problem left his car stranded in the garage for the majority of the session, depriving him of crucial track time to fine-tune his setup for qualifying. Such mechanical issues are particularly damaging in FP3, as it is the last chance for drivers to gain confidence and optimize their car’s performance before the competitive pressures of qualifying.
As De Vries tried to acclimate to his second Formula 1 car of the weekend, he briefly brought out the yellow flags. Running wide at the notoriously fast first Lesmo corner, the Williams driver took a trip over the gravel trap. Despite the momentary excursion, De Vries managed to recover his car back onto the track without sustaining significant damage, demonstrating composure under pressure and continuing his vital data-gathering run for the Williams team.
In the final 20 minutes of the session, the intensity on track significantly ramped up. Garages emptied as teams switched their focus to qualifying simulations, fitting the softer compound tyres to extract maximum performance. This period saw Max Verstappen unleash his ultimate pace, setting his weekend-best time of 1’21.252. Charles Leclerc, under immense pressure at his home race, also put in a commendable effort on his soft tyres. He improved his personal best but found himself unable to bridge the gap to the Red Bull, remaining over three-tenths of a second adrift. A brief cool-down lap and a second attempt on his soft tyres saw Leclerc shave off a mere few milliseconds, confirming his second-place position but underscoring Verstappen’s outright advantage.
Meanwhile, in the Haas garage, mechanics worked diligently to resolve Schumacher’s clutch issues. Their efforts paid off, allowing Schumacher to finally join the session in the final ten minutes. Despite the limited running, he managed to set a lap time on the soft tyres that was just under two-tenths slower than his teammate Kevin Magnussen, placing him 19th. This late appearance, though brief, provided some valuable data and a chance for Schumacher to at least get a feel for the car before qualifying.
Final Standings and What Lies Ahead
As the chequered flag waved, signaling the end of the hour-long session, Max Verstappen comfortably held onto the top spot. His dominant performance sends a clear message to his rivals heading into qualifying, despite the looming five-place grid penalty that will affect his starting position for Sunday’s race. Charles Leclerc concluded FP3 in a solid second place, 0.347 seconds behind the Red Bull driver, showcasing Ferrari’s potential but also their current deficit to the championship leader. Sergio Perez secured third, a further quarter of a second behind his teammate, completing a strong practice showing for Red Bull.
Carlos Sainz Jnr finished the session fourth fastest but will face a summons from the stewards to explain his near-miss incident with Valtteri Bottas, a situation that could potentially lead to a grid drop. Seasoned veteran Fernando Alonso demonstrated Alpine’s consistent form, taking fifth place, just ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes driver George Russell. The top ten was rounded out by Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon, and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, indicating a tight battle for supremacy across the midfield as teams optimized their setups for the unique demands of Monza’s high-speed layout.
2022 Italian Grand Prix Third Practice Result
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’21.252 | 19 | |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’21.599 | 0.347 | 15 |
| 3 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’21.848 | 0.596 | 26 |
| 4 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’21.897 | 0.645 | 17 |
| 5 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | A522 | 1’22.306 | 1.054 | 17 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL36 | 1’22.319 | 1.067 | 19 |
| 7 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W13 | 1’22.357 | 1.105 | 24 |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’22.430 | 1.178 | 27 |
| 9 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A522 | 1’22.506 | 1.254 | 17 |
| 10 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W13 | 1’22.567 | 1.315 | 22 |
| 11 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C42 | 1’22.657 | 1.405 | 14 |
| 12 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’22.755 | 1.503 | 21 |
| 13 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes | FW44 | 1’22.776 | 1.524 | 19 |
| 14 | 45 | Nyck de Vries | Williams-Mercedes | FW44 | 1’22.869 | 1.617 | 21 |
| 15 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL36 | 1’22.871 | 1.619 | 19 |
| 16 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C42 | 1’22.950 | 1.698 | 26 |
| 17 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR22 | 1’23.104 | 1.852 | 20 |
| 18 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’23.203 | 1.951 | 17 |
| 19 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’23.392 | 2.140 | 8 |
| 20 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR22 | 1’23.739 | 2.487 | 16 |
Combined Practice Results: A Weekend Overview
Analyzing the combined practice results across FP1, FP2, and FP3 offers a comprehensive view of team and driver performance throughout the Italian Grand Prix weekend thus far. Max Verstappen consistently demonstrated formidable pace, culminating in his dominant FP3 time. Ferrari, particularly with Charles Leclerc, showed flashes of brilliance and strong single-lap speed, but struggled to consistently match the Red Bull’s ultimate performance. Carlos Sainz Jnr posted the fastest time in FP2, indicating Ferrari’s potential on home soil, but consistency will be key.
Red Bull’s overall strength is evident with both Verstappen and Sergio Perez featuring prominently across all sessions, suggesting their RB18 is well-suited to the demands of Monza. The midfield battle appears incredibly tight, with Alpine, McLaren, and Mercedes drivers often separated by mere hundredths or thousandths of a second. This sets the stage for a thrilling qualifying session, where every fraction of a second will matter immensely.
Notably, Nyck de Vries’ impressive FP3 time, despite his limited running and unexpected call-up, stands out, demonstrating his raw talent and quick adaptability. The absence of Alexander Albon’s FP3 time is reflected, highlighting De Vries’ singular appearance in the final session for Williams. The combined data underscores the competitive landscape of Formula 1, where a strong performance in practice is crucial for building momentum and confidence heading into the qualifying showdown.
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | FP1 time | FP2 time | FP3 time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1’22.840 | 1’21.807 | 1’21.252 | 73 | |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’22.410 | 1’21.857 | 1’21.599 | 0.347 | 63 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’22.487 | 1’21.664 | 1’21.897 | 0.412 | 64 |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1’23.661 | 1’22.394 | 1’21.848 | 0.596 | 73 |
| 5 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | 1’23.099 | 1’22.752 | 1’22.306 | 1.054 | 71 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’23.856 | 1’22.338 | 1’22.319 | 1.067 | 75 |
| 7 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’22.689 | 1’22.386 | 1’22.357 | 1.105 | 75 |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | 1’23.260 | 1’23.217 | 1’22.430 | 1.178 | 84 |
| 9 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’22.831 | 1’22.503 | 1’22.567 | 1.251 | 71 |
| 10 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’23.075 | 1’22.728 | 1’22.506 | 1.254 | 74 |
| 11 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’23.570 | 1’22.938 | 1’22.657 | 1.405 | 72 |
| 12 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | 1’23.640 | 1’23.135 | 1’22.755 | 1.503 | 73 |
| 13 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes | 1’24.941 | 1’23.982 | 1’22.776 | 1.524 | 66 |
| 14 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’23.529 | 1’22.835 | 1.583 | 48 | |
| 15 | 45 | Nyck de Vries | Williams-Mercedes | 1’22.869 | 1.617 | 21 | ||
| 16 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’23.511 | 1’22.911 | 1’22.871 | 1.619 | 71 |
| 17 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’23.394 | 1’22.993 | 1’22.950 | 1.698 | 79 |
| 18 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’23.731 | 1’23.104 | 1.852 | 46 | |
| 19 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’24.006 | 1’23.557 | 1’23.203 | 1.951 | 66 |
| 20 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | 1’24.586 | 1’23.392 | 2.140 | 17 | |
| 21 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’23.688 | 1’23.785 | 1’23.739 | 2.436 | 71 |
| 22 | 99 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Haas-Ferrari | 1’24.317 | 3.065 | 25 | ||
| 23 | 34 | Nyck de Vries | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’24.731 | 3.479 | 22 |
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