Vettel Plays Crossword, Puzzle During Italian GP Practice

If the other Formula One drivers spent the entire Friday morning battling for the fastest time on the Monza track, Sebastian Vettel had other plans. It's not that he didn't want to join the party, but his engine allocation this year is running out – a maximum of 8 approved by the International Automobile Federation – and preferred to do only a few laps on Friday in order to keep his current power plant up and running until Sunday afternoon.

Consequently, the German driver of Red Bull Racing only did about 8 laps on the Italian track, which practically explains his 18th best time of the morning. However, Vettel did not show any sign of frustration at Monza, but tried to enjoy his spare time in the garage.

“But to show he is at least keeping occupied, the German sat at the back of his garage alternatively reading a novel, pencilling answers into a crossword and playing the numbers puzzle Sudoku,” said a report from the GMM news agency earlier today.

“Some of that is for the benefit of the reporters here. He's got a wicked sense of humor – you'll have to hear his Kimi Raikkonen impression one day,” added the Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, talking to the BBC after the first practice session.

Vettel's odd choice for the morning did not prove to be the only notable news on Friday, as several drivers encountered some problems with their cars during the first practice session. Lewis Hamilton, despite setting the fastest time of the morning, had to witness his fuel flap felling off his MP4-24 in his very first outing, while Jenson Button's BGP001 sustained some burning damage at the rear following a flash fire.

In addition, Toyota's Timo Glock spun over the chicane's new high kerbs, installed by the Italian organizers prior to the Monza race this weekend.