Italy: pre-qualifying 2018


Both Ricciardo and Hulkenberg have full engine changes, pushing them down to 19th and 20th respectively.

Ericsson had a big crash in second practice, when his DRS failed. This is likely to require changing a great many components, putting him at or near the back of the grid.

First practice was wet, though everyone set a time. Perez was fastest, ahead of Raikkonen and Ocon. Hartley, Ricciardo, Gasly, Verstappen, Sainz, Hulkenberg, and Bottas round out the rather unrepresentative top 10.

In second practice it was a Ferrari 1-2 with Vettel ahead of Raikkonen, who was a hundredth faster than Hamilton. Bottas was a few tenths back but a similar margin ahead of Verstappen and Ricciardo. Ocon, Perez, Leclerc and Hulkenberg followed.

At the moment, Leclerc and the Force Indias look in solid shape, behind the top dogs.

Vettel topped the third practice session but was less than a tenth ahead of Hamilton. Raikkonen was less than a tenth behind Hamilton. Rather tight amongst the top three. However, Bottas was nearly half a second off his compatriot. Verstappen, Magnussen, and Ocon were next, followed by Ricciardo, Leclerc and Grosjean.

Ericsson has a 10 place grid penalty for a new V6.

No tip for qualifying due to a problem with Ladbrokes. I expect Vettel to get pole and Raikkonen/Hamilton to be behind him. Force India and Leclerc may do well too.

Morris Dancer

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