Summary

Gerhard Berger did what was expected of him and drove the fastest time in the first free session for the Grand prix of Italy at Monza. Jean Alesi made it an OK session for the Benetton by setting the second fastest time. Michael Schumacher did an excellent job to bring his Ferrari to a third place on the home track of the Scuderia Ferrari team, in front of the tivosi.

Notes

• The second intermediate timing did not work.
• Panis spins entering the Rittifilo, the chicane at the end of the start-finish straight.
• Brundle and Lavaggi go through the gravel at Rittifilo.
• Alesi goes through the gravel trap at Curva della Roggia when he was trying too hard to get the fastest time from Berger.
• Hill spins entering Curva di Vialone and walks away waving to the crowd.
• Barrichello crashes into the tyre barrier when he misses the Varianti Goodyear because of some gravel on the track. He damages his right front suspension and front wing. He walked away unhurt.
• All drivers are within the 107% rule.

Top Ten First Free Practice.

1. G. Berger 1m 25.461s
2. J. Alesi 1m 25.560s
3. M. Schumacher 1m25.690s
4. J. Villeneuve 1m 25.759s
5. M. Hakkinen 1m 26.085s
6. D. Hill 1m 26.209
7. E. Irvine 1m 26.706s
8. R. Barrichello 1m 27.098s
9. H. Frentzen 1m 27.139s
10. O. Panis 1m 27.177s

Summary

Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine showed his fans at Monza today that a Ferrari is fast. Schumacher set the best time of today free practices with a 1m 24.399s. He also set the fastest top speed of 334 km/h. This gives the German the confidence that he could take pole tomorrow. Irvine was fourth, with a 1:24.988. The Brit set a top speed of 331 km/h.

Mika Hakkinen took second place in his McLaren-Mercedes with a 1m 24.667s. Berger again made clear that the Benetton's could drive with the fastest with a time of 1m 24.829s.

Damon Hill is getting off to a bad start, he came no further than seventh, 1m 25.620s.

Notes

• Coulthard spins off in the Curva de Vialone ending his session very fast.
• Hill, Frentzen and Herbert all go through the grass at Rettifilo.
• Alesi spins off at the Curva Parabolica at high speed, but the gravel trap slows down the Benetton preventing it to crash into the tyre barriers.
• All drivers are within the 107% rule.

Quotes:

Hill: "We are thinking more about Sunday's race. I'm quite happy with the way it's gone and what's happened this week has not affected my confidence."

Top Ten Second Free Practice.

1. M. Schumacher 1m24.399s
2. M. Hakkinen 1m 24.667s
3. G. Berger 1m 24.829s
4. E. Irvine 1m 24.988s
5. J. Villeneuve 1m 245.055s
6. J. Alesi 1m 25.335s
7. D. Hill 1m 25.620s
8. H. Frentzen 1m 25.973s
9. P. Diniz 1m 26.350s
10. J. Herbert 1m 26.706s