Lewis Hamilton , who will appear next year at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in a Ferrari suit, set the fastest time overall on the day dedicated to free practice for the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix of Italy 2024, the 16th round of the World Championship (out of 24) to be held on Sunday. The Mercedes Briton, a 7-time world champion, stopped the second session’s stopwatch at 1’20″738, average 258.302 km/h, just 3 thousandths ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren), fresh from his success in Holland and who was among the most acclaimed in Fanzone. Third time for Ferrarista Carlos Sainz: the Spaniard is 103 thousandths behind. Fifth time for Charles Leclerc who is 0″154 behind the other McLaren driver Oscar Piastri. Unfortunate was Andrea Kimi Antonelli ‘s Mercedes debut in the first session, which lasted only five laps before he crashed at the Parabolica. “It was quite an intense day,” Kimi explained, “Unfortunately, my first FP1 ended quickly. I pushed too early, I should have done it progressively, instead I went for the limit right away. The impact was big, a good 52g lateral, and I don’t feel great. I thank Mercedes for the chance they gave me, I apologize to the team and George Russell. Now I’m focusing on F2 to try to have a good weekend anyway.”
The Prema and ACI Team Italia driver ended Formula 2 qualifying with the sixth fastest time (pole position for England’s Zane Maloney). Today in the Sprint Race the top ten start in reverse positions. Good news from Formula 3, where championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident) took pole position – a result that allowed him to extend his lead in the standings to 3 points – with Gabriele Minì (Prema, ACI Team Italia driver) and who will start third in Sunday’s race (inverted grid for the top twelve).
“Every driver, a tree”: planted 20 trees with Sticchi, Domenicali and General Rispoli Twenty trees, as many as the drivers participating in the Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix 2024: this morning in the Variante Ascari area, the President of ACI, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, the President of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, General of Army Corps, Andrea Rispoli, Commander of the Forestry Environmental and Agri-food Units Command, Brigadier General, Raffaele Pio Manicone, Commander of the Carabinieri Biodiversity Regiment, the President of AC Milan, Geronimo La Russa, the President of Sias- Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Giuseppe Redaelli, and the President of Formula Imola, Giancarlo Minardi attended the initiative “Ogni pilota un albero,” promoted by Automobile Club d’Italia in agreement with the General Command Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Units of the Carabinieri Corps.
On the occasion, wild apple trees, wild pear trees, pado trees, wild cherry trees, turkey oaks, oxyphyll ash trees and field maples were planted.
“We have renewed an initiative taken last year with the Carabinieri Corps, which is to contribute, both at Monza and Imola, to plant a tree for every driver. Last year I had not been able to attend, so I was very pleased to be there now,” commented ACI President Angelo Sticchi Damiani . “I thank General Andrea Rispoli and the entire Carabinieri Corps, who inspired this initiative. We are always attentive to the environment, everything we can do to improve this wonderful park, which deserves respect but needs help because of its age and problems like all parks, we do it. I think this is the right way to live within the park.”
“I thank the president of ACI, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, and all those who worked on this initiative-these are the words of General Andrea Rispoli : we have planted plants that are a symbol of closeness between the Carabinieri Corps and the citizen. There is the sporting moment, but also respect for biodiversity. This is also a moment of education for all generations.”
Autodromo Nazionale Monza’s managing director, Alfredo Scala, awarded by the Parco Regionale Valle Lambro On the occasion of the 42nd edition of the Confartigianato Motori Award, the Parco Regionale della Valle del Lambro presented the “Technology and Environment Award” to the managing director, Alfredo Scala “for his contribution to the innovative vision that has characterized the significant modernization interventions of the circuit,” reads the motivation. A commitment to the development and management of the racetrack that has also been able to look with great attention and concreteness at issues of sustainability.”
During the ceremony, Scala emphasized that “being inside the Lambro Valley Regional Park for us is a source of pride and uniqueness and always pushes us to take care of our park. After the storm of July 2024, thanks to the collaboration with the agencies, Lombardy Region and the Carabinieri Forestry and Parks Protection Command, more than 8,000 plants were planted. It is also important for us to recover, transforming, as was recently done with the logs felled by the storm that became furniture for the forest area and fountains for our spectators. Environment also means transitioning to a renewable energy tariff and using biofuel generators. We have achieved FIA three stars recognition and want to maintain it for a long time.
“For us,” Scala continued, “sustainability is also social, and in recent years we have implemented activities together with associations both during the Grand Prix and throughout the year. The local community for us remains the starting point for involvement, starting with schools and associations to be more and more a facility at the service of the area around us. In this Grand Prix, thanks to the modernization works we can say that we have further reduced architectural barriers and this has allowed us to create a new area dedicated to fans with disabilities who have all the services available and can move around the circuit also thanks to the indications of WeGlad, which is an online community developed precisely by young people with disabilities, who map the routes indicating possible obstacles. Also during this GP, we renewed our partnerships with ATS and CSV for food donation, and our friends from PizzAut will still be by our side. Joining us this year will be LILT, which will provide sunscreen for spectators, and Rise Against Hunger, an association particularly active in fighting food waste and supporting communities in Zimbabwe.”
AND TOMORROW….
Verstappen, Hamilton and the Ferraris in Fanzone
Tomorrow on the stage of the Fanzone of the Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix 2024 will go up, among others, world champion Max Verstappen who is expected around 10.20 a.m., shortly afterwards it will be Lewis Hamilton’s turn to wear red next year. Grand finale with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz who are expected to answer questions and sign autographs around 10:40 a.m. It should be noted that the Fanzone is an integral part of the event and, therefore, one must have a valid ticket for the day to access it (opening hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased on the monzanet.it and ticketone.it websites.
TALK ITALIAN TALENT WITH ANTONELLI, FORNAROLI AND MINÌ
After making his debut yesterday in Formula 1 with Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will take the stage at the Fanzone tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 31, for the Talk Italian Talent , which will feature alongside the Bolognese Formula 2 driver also the protagonists in the fight for the Formula 3 title Leonardo Fornaroli and Gabriele Minì . The appointment is for 5 p.m.
The Queen’s Ring to the poleman with Mayor Pilotto and Regional Undersecretary Piazza To the author of the pole position in the Temple of Speed will be delivered at the end of qualifying the Queen’s Ring that reproduces the Iron Crown to which the author (Guido Guzzi) has inserted some elements reminiscent of the checkered flag: to deliver it the Mayor of Monza Paolo Pilotto and The Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Lombardy Region, Mauro Piazza, by proxy of President Attilio Fontana.
11 A.M., FANZONE: MONZA REMEMBERS VITTORIO BRAMBILLA
Finally, also tomorrow, in Fanzone, 50 years after the F1 debut of the unforgettable Monza driver Vittorio Brambilla (1937-2001), Mayor Paolo Pilotto, together with Sias Autodromo Nazionale Monza president Giuseppe Redaelli, will present an award to Vittorio’s son, Roberto. It is a 30-cm diameter silver-plated brass plate with a special dedication and the symbols of the City of Monza and Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The appointment is set for 11 a.m. at the marquee that houses the photo exhibition dedicated to Brambilla.