Italy – Free Practice 3: Vettel Once Again

For this final practice session, the 22 drivers will be able to enjoy ideal weather, with an air temperature of 28°C and a track temperature already reaching 35°C.

From the start of the session, the drivers hit the track to complete their traditional installation lap. The only one to continue for a second lap is Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg, while Fernando Alonso isn’t even in his car yet and is casually chatting with his engineers. The initial lap times aren’t significant as the drivers are clearly not aiming for performance, while we are still provided with thermal images of Paul di Resta’s front tires.

Things then begin to accelerate. The two Red Bulls resume their domination from yesterday as Sebastian Vettel leads the session with 1:24.947 while his teammate follows by four-tenths. The German thus relegates Kimi Räikkönen to more than five-tenths behind. Pastor Maldonado then becomes the best of the rest by climbing to third place with a time of 1:25.494, before being overtaken by Lewis Hamilton (1:25.415).

We can see the two Ferraris testing the aerodynamic push by running in formation on the pit straight, something that doesn’t escape Jean-Eric Vergne, who reports it on the radio…

**After half an hour**, the ranking is Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Maldonado, and Räikkönen, while in the pits, Luca di Montezemolo is in deep conversation with his guest, Flavio Briatore.

At 11:33, Paul di Resta loses control of his car in the Parabolica, which goes straight off. He crashes into the tires, but without any consequence for him. However, his session is over and his mechanics will have work to do before this afternoon’s qualifications. The marshals are able to clear his car without needing to interrupt the session. Shortly after, his teammate, Adrian Sutil also makes a mistake. But his spin allows him to stay on track and continue without further issue.

After forty minutes, Sebastian Vettel drives the point home with a time of 1:24.736. Fernando Alonso follows more than four tenths behind, ahead of Mark Webber, Jenson Button, and Lewis Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel manages to improve his time again to 1:24.551. He is the only one to have broken the 1:25 barrier, as Mark Webber’s time is 1:25.120.

Fifteen minutes from the end, there’s complete calm on the track as all the drivers have returned to their pits. Sebastian Vettel tries to cool down as much as he can since the air temperature has risen to 29°C and the track temperature now reaches 38°C.

Ten minutes from the end, Jenson Button is the first to go back on track. He takes the opportunity to perform a practice start at the pit exit. Most of the other drivers follow him to make the final adjustments before this afternoon’s qualifying. Vettel improves his best time to 1:24.478, but Alonso makes a strong progression, coming within three-tenths of the German. Webber and Button are 3rd and 4th with three minutes to go.

Again, Vettel improves by setting a 1:24.360, but Alonso keeps the gap to under three tenths. Webber maintained his 3rd position, with Hamilton and Pérez completing the top 5. It is the end of the session. Nico Rosberg finishes 22nd and last after having to stop mid-session due to overheating in his car.

Free Practice 3 Results for the 2013 Italian Grand Prix: