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Monza, Italy - Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton set the pace in first practice for the 2015 Italian Grand Prix on Friday with Mercedes team mate and closest rival Nico Rosberg nearly half a second slower.
The Briton, who will be chasing his 11th pole in 12 races on Saturday (August 5), told reporters on arriving at Monza with his hair dyed blond that he was going through an 'experimental' phase.
Fastest time
There was nothing radically different in his track performance, with the championship leader picking up where he left off in Belgium two weeks ago with a fastest time of 1min24.670 seconds.
On a sunny morning in the former royal park outside Milan, Rosberg - 28 points behind Hamilton in the championship with eight races remaining - was 0.463 seconds slower with the Mercedes pair again in a class of their own.
The champions have brought an upgraded engine to Monza, the fastest track on the calendar, and it showed with rivals trailing far behind.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, preparing for his first Italian race in the home team's red overalls, was third quickest - but a massive 1.588 slower than Hamilton - while team mate Kimi Raikkonen was sixth.
The usual array of Ferrari banners in the stands, several of them supporting stricken favourite Michael Schumacher and others paying tribute to the late Jules Bianchi, testified to the enduring passion of the local fans.
'I have a wet bum'
Germany's Nico Hulkenberg was fourth on the time sheets despite a fuel leak that prompted him to tell his Force India team over the radio: "I have a wet bum, it smells like petrol".
Mexican team mate Sergio Perez was fifth fastest.
The session was halted briefly when Spaniard Carlos Sainz lost control of his Toro Rosso at Parabolica and skidded into the gravel, bringing out the red flags at the half hour mark.
Honda-powered McLaren, who will collect more grid penalties with both Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, endured another difficult session with the Spaniard 17th and the Briton 18th.
Both stopped early for engine changes.
2015 Italian GP first practice results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1min24.670
2. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1min25.133
3. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 1min26.258
4. Nico Hulkenberg (Germany) Force India - Mercedes 1min26.612
5. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India - Mercedes 1min26.730
6. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 1min26.783
7. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1min26.922
8. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes 1min26.936
9. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams-Mercedes 1min27.075
10. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus - Mercedes 1min27.118
11. Felipe Nasr (Brazil) Sauber - Ferrari 1min27.232
12. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) RedBull - Renault 1min27.275
13. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber - Ferrari 1min27.454
14. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso - Renault 1min27.591
15. Jolyon Palmer (Britain) Lotus - Mercedes 1min27.669
16. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso - Renault 1min27.907
17. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 1min28.023
18. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1min28.423
19. Will Stevens (Britain) Marussia - Ferrari 1min29.853
20. Roberto Merhi (Spain) Marussia - Ferrari 1min29.911
