Monza, 7 September

A very busy day for Scuderia Ferrari which can leave the team hopeful for the rest of the Italian Grand Prix weekend. The engineers concentrated on optimising the balance of the F2012, in terms of weight distribution and aero configuration, crucial elements on the unique Monza track. As usual on Friday, the team ran a comparison of the two types of Pirelli tyre, in this case the Medium and Hard, which seem to deliver very similar performance. Fernando Alonso had a slightly complicated day on the way to good fourth and third fastest times in the two sessions, but both of them ended prematurely because of technical problems on the car. Felipe Massa also ran consistently, making the most of all three hours of practice, getting through all the programme. He ended the day fourth fastest, having been fifth in the morning. Quickest were the two McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, with Hamilton just 0.058 quicker than Alonso and 0.140 ahead of Massa.