Monaco, 13 May

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro secured double top billing in today’s three hours of free practice, with Fernando Alonso steering his F10 to the fastest time in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Team-mate Felipe Massa was fifth in the first ninety minutes and fourth in the second. Fernando racked up a total of 68 laps around the twisty streets of the Principality and Felipe did 75. Most importantly at this track, both men kept away from the unforgiving safety barriers, as time lost here is harder to make up than at any other circuit.

In the days leading up to this event, the weather forecast has looked very changeable and that was definitely the case today, as bright sunshine in the morning gave way to light rain towards the end of the second session, with a heavy downpour following the chequered flag as the GP 2 cars went out for qualifying.



Now, another Monaco tradition, there is no track action tomorrow, at least for the F1 cars, so that Fernando and Felipe will not be getting back in the cockpit of their F10s until the final free practice on Saturday morning. However, the drivers and engineers will not be “on holiday” as they pour over all the data acquired, to be as well prepared as possible for the rest of the weekend, while with no parc ferme restrictions, the mechanics can work on the cars.

Second today was Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes, followed by fellow German, Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull. Behind Felipe in fifth, was the Brazilian’s former team-mate and multiple Monaco winner, Michael Schumacher in the other Mercedes while the top six was completed by self-confessed street circuit fan, Robert Kubica in the Renault.