Lewis Hamilton , who will be at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza next year in a Ferrari suit, achieved the best overall time on the day dedicated to free practice for the 2024 Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix , the sixteenth round of the World Championship (out of 24) to be held on Sunday.

The Englishman from Mercedes, 7 times world champion, stopped the clock in the second session at 1’20”738, an average of 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 fastest time for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz : the Spaniard is 103 thousandths behind. Fifth fastest time for Charles Leclerc who is 0”154 behind the other McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli had an unlucky debut with Mercedes in the first session, which lasted only five laps before crashing 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, but instead I immediately looked for the limit. The impact was significant, 52 lateral Gs, and I don’t feel great. I thank Mercedes for the opportunity 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 closed the Formula 2 qualifying session with the sixth fastest time (pole position for Englishman Zane Maloney). Today in the Sprint Race, the top ten will start in reverse order. 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 the Sunday race (reversed grid for the top twelve).

“Every driver, a tree”: 20 trees planted 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 the ACI, Angelo Sticchi Damiani , the President of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali , the General of the Army Corps, Andrea Rispoli , Commander of the Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Units Command, the Brigadier General, Raffaele Pio Manicone , Commander of the Carabinieri Biodiversity Group, the President of AC Milan, Geronimo La Russa , the President of Sias- Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Giuseppe Redaelli , the President of Formula Imola, Giancarlo Minardi attended the initiative “Every driver, a tree”, promoted by Automobile Club d’Italia in agreement with the General Command of the Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Units of the Arma dei Carabinieri. On this occasion, wild apple trees, wild pear trees, pado trees, wild cherry trees, Turkey oaks, oxyphilous ash trees and field maples were planted. “We renewed an initiative taken last year with the Arma dei Carabinieri which is to contribute, both in Monza and Imola, to planting a tree for each pilot. Last year I was unable to attend and so I was very pleased to be there now – commented the president of ACI, Angelo Sticchi Damiani -. I thank General Andrea Rispoli and the entire Arma dei Carabinieri, 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 due to its age and its problems like all parks, we do it. I think this is the right way to live inside 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 and the citizen. There is the sporting moment, but also respect for biodiversity. This is also a moment of education for all generations”.

The DG of Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Alfredo Scala, awarded by the Valle Lambro Regional Park On the occasion of the 42nd edition of the Confartigianato Motori Award, the Valle del Lambro Regional Park awarded the “Technology and Environment Award” to the General Director, Alfredo Scala “for his contribution to the innovative vision that has characterized the significant modernization interventions of the circuit – we read in the motivation -. A commitment to the development and management of the Autodromo that has also been able to look with great attention and concreteness at the issues of sustainability”. During the ceremony, Scala underlined how “being inside the Lambro Valley Regional Park is a source of pride and uniqueness for us and always pushes us to take care of our park. After the storm of July 2024, thanks to the collaboration with the authorities, the Lombardy Region and the Carabinieri Forestry and Parks Protection Command, more than 8,000 plants were planted. For us, it is also important to recover, transforming, as recently done with the trunks felled by the storm that became furniture for the wooded area and fountains for our spectators. Environment also means transition to an energy tariff from renewable sources and use of biofuel generators. We have obtained the FIA three stars recognition and we want to keep it for a long time. “For us – continued Scala – sustainability is also social and in recent years we have implemented activities together with the associations both during the Grand Prix and throughout the entire year. The local community for us remains the starting point for involvement, starting with schools and associations to increasingly be a facility serving the area around us. In this Grand Prix, thanks to the modernization work we can say that we have further reduced the architectural barriers and this has allowed us to create a new area dedicated to disabled enthusiasts who have access to all the services and can move around the circuit also thanks to the indications of WeGlad, which is an online community developed by young people with disabilities, who map the routes indicating possible obstacles. Also during this GP we have renewed the collaborations with ATS and CSV for food donation and our friends from PizzAut will still be at our side. In addition, this year, LILT, which provides sunscreen for spectators and Rise Against Hunger, an association particularly active in the fight against food waste and in supporting communities in Zimbabwe”.

AND TOMORROW….

Verstappen, Hamilton and the Ferrari fans in the Fanzone Tomorrow, the world champion Max Verstappen will take to the stage of the Fanzone of the Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix 2024, among others, and is expected around 10.20 am. Shortly after, it will be the turn of Lewis Hamilton, who will wear red next year. The grand finale will be with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz , who are expected to answer questions and sign autographs around 10.40 am . It should be emphasized that the Fanzone is an integral part of the event and, therefore, to access it (opening hours 9 am – 7 pm ) you must have a valid ticket for the day. Tickets can be purchased on the websites monzanet.it and ticketone.it .

TALK ITALIAN TALENT WITH ANTONELLI, FORNAROLI AND MINÌ

After making his Formula 1 debut yesterday with Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will take to the Fanzone stage tomorrow, Saturday 31 August, for the Talk Italian Talent which will see the Formula 2 driver from Bologna alongside the protagonists of the fight for the Formula 3 title Leonardo Fornaroli and Gabriele Minì. The appointment is at 5 pm. The Queen’s Ring to the poleman with Mayor Pilotto and the regional undersecretary Piazza. The author of the pole position in the Temple of Speed will be awarded the Queen’s Ring at the end of qualifying, which reproduces the Iron Crown to which the author (Guido Guzzi) has inserted some elements that recall the checkered flag: it will be delivered by the Mayor of Monza Paolo Pilotto and the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Lombardy Region, Mauro Piazza , on behalf of President Attilio Fontana.

11 AM, FANZONE: MONZA REMEMBERS VITTORIO BRAMBILLA

Finally, tomorrow, in Fanzone, 50 years after the debut in F1 of the unforgettable Monza driver Vittorio Brambilla (1937-2001), the mayor Paolo Pilotto , together with the president of Sias Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Giuseppe Redaelli , will present an award to Vittorio’s son, Roberto. It is a silver-plated brass plate 30 cm in diameter with a special dedication and the symbols of the Municipality of Monza and the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The appointment is set for 11 am , at the tent hosting the photographic exhibition dedicated to Brambilla.