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The first day of running in the 2024 F1 Italian GP is done and we have a Mercedes on top by the time the chequered flag fell for the final time. Lewis Hamilton topped FP2 by a time that was only 3 thousandths quicker than Lando Norris.
The story of the day was not just the Mercedes driver who topped the session, it was also the young teenager who made his F1 debut. The Italian GP was home to young prodigy Kimi Antonelli's first outing in a contemporary Formula 1 car. The debut didn't last long as he crashed the car in 10 minutes and on his second flying lap.
With that being said, the practice sessions didn't have as many disruptions. There was one from Antonelli's crash in FP1 and one from Magnussen's crash in FP2. As the first day of practice comes to an end in the F1 Italian GP race weekend, what did we learn? Let's take a look.
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2024 F1 Italian GP FP1 and FP2: What did we learn?
#1 Top 4 teams are very close
It's too close to call at the front by the looks of it as Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull are all very close to each other at the front. The Italian team brought upgrades to the car in what was a very extensive package. By the looks of it, the package is working and the team is in a strong position.
Red Bull senior members Christian Horner and Helmut Marko were seen in an animated discussion as well. There is no clear picture at the moment but things look very close for now.
#2 Tow is going to play a massive role
Tow is something that's going to be pivotal in qualifying and could be a difference between drivers in terms of 3 to 4-tenths. On a grid that seems as condensed as it is right now, it's going to be very interesting to see how the teams manage and plan this out.
The final result in the F1 Italian GP is going to come down to how these teams plan things out, and for the midfield, it could be the difference between points and a finish at the back of the grid.
#3 Extended DRS zone could have a major impact on racing
For a change, the FIA has decided to increase the DRS by 103m at the start-finish straight. In the last few years, we have seen far too many DRS trains, and one of the reasons behind that has been the zones, which were maybe not big enough. With the zone getting bigger, it could lead to a scenario where either the trains become longer or we could have a lot more overtakes.
We could see regular changes in positions where drivers could even come back to retake their slots after being overtaken. The exact reality of the zone is still a question mark, but it is certainly something that cannot be ignored.
#4 Sauber might have run higher engine modes
If you looked at the timesheets throughout the practice sessions on Friday, Valtteri Bottas was one name that impressed a lot. It does appear that Sauber might be more suited to the F1 Italian GP track, but it also could be a case of the team turning the wick up a little.
Things got normalized a little as the day went on as Valtteri's soft tire run was probably not as impressive. The F1 Italian GP with a Ferrari power unit could be one where Sauber might do better, but we'd have to wait and see if the performance is truly there.
In the midfield, it's too hard to choose for now because Haas, RB, Williams, and Aston Martin have shown glimpses of pace. What happens in terms of the final result could come down to the execution in the F1 Italian GP qualifying.
#5 The Kimi Antonelli experience is going to be something interesting for everyone
One has to admit that the entire Kimi Antonelli experience was something different because of the anticipation around the driver. We don't usually get drivers that are this hyped even before they've turned a wheel in an F1 car. The 2024 F1 Italian GP FP1's first 10-12 minutes were all about Kimi.
The driver was given soft tires and a license to push. Push he did but just went overboard. Before he crashed, he'd set purple middle sector, and he was going for it in the Mercedes. This entire experience where we see this young driver bloom into something and see what he becomes is going to be very interesting.
