Michael Schumacher has expressed dismay about the changes to Monza’s kerbs for the Italian grand prix this weekend.

The FIA ordered the changes, to the area behind the apex kerbs at the famous chicanes at turns 1 and 4, to prevent a car becoming airborne after running over them.

But the new ramped concrete sections are not universally popular, particularly with Schumacher expecting Mercedes’ W01 to struggle on the high speed layout.

“It’s a pity the kerbs and not what they used to be. Our car is good at riding over the kerbs, but now we – and anyone else – cannot have this advantage,” he is quoted by German media.

Schumacher also defended his countryman and friend Sebastian Vettel, after the Red Bull driver was heavily criticised for some recent mistakes.

“He made a mistake. Why attack him like this?” the German said at Monza.

“The guy wants to be world champion, so he attacks, and you make mistakes sometimes. I don’t think there should be a big deal made out of it,” added Schumacher.

Emerson Fittipaldi is resuming his role as a special formula one steward at this weekend’s Italian grand prix.

The 63-year-old double world champion kicked off his FIA duties in the fourth steward role at Montreal in June.

Also confirmed by F1′s governing body ahead of the Monza event are reported changes to the chicanes.

The FIA, meeting for a World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Wednesday, said the areas behind the apex kerbs at turns 1 and 4 have been laid with a ramped concrete section.

The sections will ensure that the chances of a car becoming airborne after running over the kerbs are minimised.

Mark Webber had another reliability scare during the final practice session before Saturday’s qualifying.

After his engine failure on Friday at Istanbul Park, the back-to-back winner and joint championship leader lost a third of the 60-minute morning session.

The Australian’s Red Bull crawled back to the pits on engine tickover, after his electronic throttle stopped communicating to his replaced Renault powerplant.

And when he returned to the track, Webber – whose teammate Sebastian Vettel topped the session – was among the several drivers who spectacularly spun at the notorious Turn 8.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was another driver having trouble with the four-apex bend, spinning and – like Felipe Massa on Friday – cutting all the way to the canvas of his tyres.

Force India’s Adrian Sutil failed to set a laptime due an hydraulic problem.

(GMM)

Adrian Sutil had a big crash at the end of Friday’s opening practice session in Turkey.

The German driver went off the track at high speed on the exit of the Istanbul Park layout’s famous four-apex Turn 8 corner, incurring heavy damage to the Force India car.

“He said he had understeer and went off into the marbles, which then put him into the barriers,” the team said on its Twitter page once Sutil had returned to the garage.

It was otherwise a fairly quiet session under warm and blue skies and near-empty grandstands, amid rumours there is a chance of light rain for Sunday.

Bruno Senna had to sit out the initial 90 minutes of practice in deference to Friday test driver Sakon Yamamoto, who ended the session slowest of all.

Also making its 2010 debut was Red Bull’s first F-duct solution, fitted only to Sebastian Vettel’s car in order to provide a back-to-back comparison with Mark Webber’s RB6.

Vettel ended the session fifth, two tenths faster than Barcelona/Monaco winner Webber.

Lewis Hamilton topped the times in his McLaren, but he might now be reprimanded by the stewards for wearing newly-pierced earrings under his helmet.

The wearing of jewellery is prohibited according to article 2.2.1 appendix L of the sporting regulations.

Practice 1.1 -  Istanbul Park

.1º  	2  	 	Lewis Hamilton  	McLaren  	00:01'28''653
.2º 	1 		Jenson Button 		McLaren 	00:01'29''615 	00:00'00''962
.3º 	3 		Michael Schumacher 	MercedesGP 	00:01'29''750 	00:00'01''097
.4º 	4 		Nico Rosberg 		MercedesGP 	00:01'29''855 	00:00'01''202
.5º 	5 		Sebastian Vettel 	Red Bull 	00:01'29''867 	00:00'01''214
.6º 	11 		Robert Kubica 		Renault 	00:01'30''061 	00:00'01''408
.7º 	12 		Vitaly Petrov 		Renault 	00:01'30''065 	00:00'01''412
.8º 	6 		Mark Webber 		Red Bull 	00:01'30''097 	00:00'01''444
.9º 	8 		Fernando Alonso 	Ferrari 	00:01'30''294 	00:00'01''641
.10º 	14 		Adrian Sutil 		Force India 	00:01'30''501 	00:00'01''848
.11º 	23 		Kamui Kobayashi 	Sauber 	        00:01'30''615 	00:00'01''962
.12º 	15 		Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Force India 	00:01'30''853 	00:00'02''200
.13º 	7 		Felipe Massa 		Ferrari 	00:01'30''867 	00:00'02''214
.14º 	16 		Sebastian Buemi 	Toro Rosso 	00:01'31''011 	00:00'02''358
.15º 	22 		Pedro de la Rosa 	Sauber 	        00:01'31''238 	00:00'02''585
.16º 	10 		Nico Hulkenberg 	Williams 	00:01'31''355 	00:00'02''702
.17º 	9 		Rubens Barrichello 	Williams 	00:01'31''464 	00:00'02''811
.18º 	17 		Jaime Alguersuari 	Toro Rosso 	00:01'31''735 	00:00'03''082
.19º 	19 		Heikki Kovalainen 	Lotus Racing 	00:01'32''161 	00:00'03''508
.20º 	18 		Jarno Trulli 		Lotus Racing 	00:01'32''990 	00:00'04''337
.21º 	20 		Karun Chandhok 		HRT 	        00:01'34''876 	00:00'06''223
.22º 	25 		Lucas di Grassi 	Virgin Racing 	00:01'35''137 	00:00'06''484
.23º 	24 		Timo Glock 		Virgin Racing 	00:01'35''583 	00:00'06''930
.24º 	21 		Sakon Yamamoto 		HRT 	        00:01'36''137

(GMM)

Amid intense speculation about his future and a slump in his personal performance, Felipe Massa is looking to bounce back this weekend.

Turkey’s Istanbul Park has hosted five consecutive rounds of the world championship, and Massa won three of them consecutively between 2006 and 2008.

“It probably is my favourite track,” the Brazilian is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick, referring to the layout with the now-famous four-apex Turn 8.

29-year-old Massa should get a clear chance to perform in Turkey this weekend, as although rain is forecast early this week, the race event looks to be staged under warm and sunny skies.

His current contract runs out in December, but Massa is quoted as instead focusing on the challenge of making the F10 car respond better to his driving.

“The only thing that matters is my work within the team and how we prepare for the future,” Massa is quoted by France’s Le Nouvel Obs.

“I came here to be with Michael (in 2006) and I have also teamed up with Kimi and today I’m with Fernando. They are all strong drivers.

“I feel a lot of respect within the team and that is what matters,” he added.
(GMM)