At the warm-up in preparation for the ...

Published on 07 September 1997 by Verstappen Info Page

At the warm-up in preparation for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza to be staged today Mika Hakkinen was the fastest man with 1:24.234 followed by Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli and Shinji Nakano. For a long time Jos and Mika were 19th and 20th, side by side. At the very last moment though Mika went out again, made a quick lap and set the 12th quickest time (1:26.037). Jos eventually had a 20th time with 1:27.496.

Although the sky was clouded it hasn't rained during the warm-up. After the first quarter Shinji Nakano was fastest (!), before Ralf Schumacher, Hakkinen and Coulthard. Mechanical failure prevented Jan Magnussen and Ukyo Katayama from performing well and Michael Schumacher lost control in a fast lap in the second Lesmo and had to abandon his attempt for better results. The complete overview of times can be found on our season page.

Led by Damon Hill British and other drivers and teammembers paid tribute to Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, with a minute of silence at 12.00 hrs on Saturday, the moment the funeral services for her started at Westminster Abbey in London. The crowd applauded when the minute's silence started and applauded again when the tribute ended.