Hamilton put controversy behind him with the fastest lap in Italian Grand Prix practice Friday. The 2008 Formula One champion, who faced strong criticism after crashing out of the previous race in Belgium, roared around the fastest track on the calendar with a best time of one minute 23.865 seconds in the morning session. Red Bull's reigning champion Sebastian Vettel, who has a 92 point lead after 12 of the 19 races, was quickest in the afternoon in 1:24.010 with Hamilton second and a mere 0.036 slower. Hamilton's teammate Jenson Button, the 2009 champion for Brawn, was second and seventh respectively in the two sessions. Champions Red Bull looked as competitive as ever, despite describing the track as their weakest, with Australian Mark Webber fourth in the morning behind Vettel and sixth after lunch. Red Bull has never finished on the Monza podium, although Vettel won with sister team Toro Rosso in 2008. With the battle lines seemingly drawn between McLaren and Red Bull, Ferrari made a slow start to the last Friday practice of the European season but ended the afternoon on a stronger note. Brazilian Felipe Massa was fourth while teammate Fernando Alonso, who delighted the home fans with a win from pole last year, was fifth. Former Ferrari ace Michael Schumacher, now racing for Mercedes at the age of 42, was third on the afternoon timesheets after going off at Parabolica without hitting the wall in the first session. His enduring popularity was evident from the banners around the circuit. “Michael, we always wish you well,” declared one sheet, written in Ferrari red lettering, festooned from the railings of the main grandstand. Indian test and reserve driver Karun Chandhok replaced Italian Jarno Trulli at Team Lotus in the day's opening session while Germany's Nico Hulkenberg was in Paul Di Resta's Force India. Toro Rosso's Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi crashed into the barriers at Parabolica in the afternoon. Red Bull extends Renault deal Formula One leader Red Bull has announced a five-year contract extension with engine supplier Renault. The deal means the relationship will continue through the sport's introduction of 1.6-liter V6-turbo engines in 2014. The collaboration began in 2007. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “Renault Sport F1 has always been very straightforward to work with, which has been a contributing factor to the ongoing success of the Red Bull Racing-Renault partnership.” Entering this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are 1-2 in the drivers' standings. The team holds a 131-point lead over McLaren in the constructors' standings, with Ferrari nearly 200 points back in third.
