FIA F3
Monza: Status GP practice report
STATUS GP DRIVERS GET FIRST TASTE OF FLAT-OUT MONZA MAGIC Status Grand Prix's three drivers took their first laps on the famous flat-out Monza circuit in the first practice session today as they prepare for the final event of the inaugural GP3 ...
Published: Sep 11, 2010, 5:21 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
STATUS GP DRIVERS GET FIRST TASTE OF FLAT-OUT MONZA MAGIC
Status Grand Prix's three drivers took their first laps on the famous flat-out Monza circuit in the first practice session today as they prepare for the final event of the inaugural GP3 Series championship this weekend.
The Italian circuit's long straights and sweeping corners, intersected by just three chicanes, provide a unique challenge for GP3 drivers and their 280hp Dallara-Renault cars, and Status GP's drivers tried a variety of low-downforce set-ups before Saturday morning's qualifying session.
Canadian Robert Wickens, who arrives in Monza as the only driver who can stop points leader Esteban Gutierrez winning the GP3 title this weekend, ended the fastest of the Status trio with a lap which left him 12th fastest. It was not the prelude to qualifying he had been looking for, but Wickens is confident that more is to come after debriefing with his engineers on Friday night.
GMH Motorsport-backed driver Daniel Morad was only 0.04sec behind his team-mate, as the Canadian- Lebanese took well to the track on his first visit to Monza. The 20-year-old set his time without the benefit of a tow - in which a car gains speed along the straight by being close behind the car in front. This tactic, although hard to execute, is something Morad and his team-mates are now looking to employ in qualifying tomorrow on the unusually fast circuit, leaving them hopeful of stepping up to top 10 grid positions.
For Marussia Motors development driver Ivan Lukashevich, it was also his first visit to Italy's great speedbowl. As he acclimatised to having wing settings that provide no downforce, the Russian consistently improved through the session to close within 2.0sec of the front-runners.
The Driver's View
Robert Wickens (CAN): Best time: 1m45.22s, +0.897s; Position: 12th.
"It was a slightly disappointing Friday practice session, but we've worked hard on the data tonight and we'll be pulling out all the stops in qualifying tomorrow."
Daniel Morad (LIB): Best time: 1m45.27s, +0.939s; Position: 13th.
"It went well today for my first time at this unique and challenging circuit, and I know we have the potential to put a strong lap together in qualifying. It's difficult to find a tow but we have some tactics at our disposal."
Ivan Lukashevich (RUS): Best time: 1m46.52s, + 2.189s; Position: 28th.
"This is a truly fast circuit, and the car feels totally different to how it does anywhere else with such low downforce settings. But I've enjoyed it and am looking forward to tomorrow."
-source: status gp
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Monza: Status GP race 1 report
Next article Monza: Qualifying press conference
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Robert Wickens
Robert Wickens embraces last-minute call-up for IMSA Endurance debut at Road America
IMSA
IMSA
Road America
Robert Wickens embraces last-minute call-up for IMSA Endurance debut at Road America
Robert Wickens full of “gratitude” in home race return after extraordinary industry effort
IMSA
IMSA
Mosport
Robert Wickens full of “gratitude” in home race return after extraordinary industry effort
Robert Wickens set to again compete in IMSA sprint rounds with DXDT Racing
IMSA
IMSA
Robert Wickens set to again compete in IMSA sprint rounds with DXDT Racing
More from
Status Grand Prix
Rowland to see out GP2 season with Status
FIA F2
FIA F2
Rowland to see out GP2 season with Status
The GP3 Series heads to Silverstone for the third round of the season
FIA F3
FIA F3
Silverstone
The GP3 Series heads to Silverstone for the third round of the season
Monaco GP2: Stanaway wins Sprint Race for Status
FIA F2
FIA F2
Monaco
Monaco GP2: Stanaway wins Sprint Race for Status
Latest news
Cetilar unveils blue Ferrari 499P ahead of Hypercar debut
Asian Le Mans
AsLM Asian Le Mans 29 min
Cetilar unveils blue Ferrari 499P ahead of Hypercar debut
2026 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
2026 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
"Two steps forward, one step back" – Oscar Piastri explains the route out of McLaren's car woes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
"Two steps forward, one step back" – Oscar Piastri explains the route out of McLaren's car woes
Denny Hamlin proud of season despite another likely missed title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
3 h
Denny Hamlin proud of season despite another likely missed title
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe