World champion Fernando Alonso put troubled McLaren on top in free practice for Ferrari's home Italian Grand Prix on Friday.

The Spaniard, whose team risk exclusion from the championship they currently lead after allegations that they benefited from leaked Ferrari technical information, lapped the Monza circuit in one minute 22.386 seconds.

Lewis Hamilton, the rookie who is five points clear of team mate Alonso at the top of the standings with five races remaining, was second on the afternoon timesheets with a lap 0.823 seconds slower.

McLaren fined

Meanwhile, the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team has been fined 50,000 dollars by motor sport’s ruling body (FIA) for failing to crash test a new gear box prior to Fernando Alonso’s victory in Hungary, adds AFP
A source from the sports governing body said on Friday the team had been fined because it had broken FIA rules.