Good performance for Vettel as Liuzzi got stuck in traffic
It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Scuderia Toro Rosso at Monza. Sebastian Vettel was able to get into Q2 and will start the Italian Grand Prix from 16th position on the grid. Team mate Tonio Liuzzi got slowed down by the traffic and will start from 18th position.
Sebastian Vettel (STR2-04)
"This was definitely a good day for me as finally I had a good qualifying. Yesterday, we were struggling and I was not very happy with the car, but this morning we improved it a lot and we also seemed to have round the best way to deal with qualifying, as I really got the maximum out of the tyres. In Q2, the track improved and I improved, but I did not have any more of the Option tyre at that point. In the final sector, I might have lost a couple of hundredths, but overall for me this was a nice day."
Third Practice Session: Best lap 1.23.853, pos. 13th, 14 laps
Qualify: Best lap 1.23.351, pos. 16th
Tonio Liuzzi (STR2-03)
"I was a bit unlucky in that Wurz was going out on track just as I was on my final quick lap and it slowed me down a bit. I also then had traffic in the last two corners which cost me two or three tenths, otherwise I might have made it to Q2. Since this morning I seemed to be suffering with a lack of top speed compared to my team mate. We have improved the car a bit today, but it will be a tough race. As for tomorrow's strategy we will have to look at what the others are likely to do. However, Monza is usually a one-stop race as going down pit lane takes a long time, but nothing is decided yet."
Third Practice Session: Best lap 1.24.208, pos. 19th, 15 laps
Qualify: Best lap 1.23.866. 20th, pos. 18th
Giorgio Ascanelli: "This circuit seems to suit us better than some of the others. Sebastian did a good job, while with Tonio, he never really got a completely clear lap. This morning he did a 24.2 and he could have replicated that easily. In terms of our strategy for the session, we decided that getting into Q2 was the main aim, which is why Sebastian ran out of his first choice of tyre for Q2. We did a total of five runs in Q1 between the two cars, staggering them to cover all the time slots and it so happened that Sebastian got the best one."
T-Car: STR2-01 (Liuzzi)
