Saturday news briefs from Monaco
(GMM) Fernando Alonso topped the final pre-qualifying practice session at Monaco, as track action resumed on the street circuit on Saturday morning. Toyota and BMW's woes continued, with all four Cologne and Hinwil built cars in the bottom four positions.
Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Behind | Laps |
| 1. | Alonso | Renault | 1:15.164 | +0.000 | 24 |
| 2. | Button | Brawn-Mercedes | 1:15.233 | +0.069 | 29 |
| 3. | Kovalainen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:15.278 | +0.114 | 24 |
| 4. | Barrichello | Brawn-Mercedes | 1:15.286 | +0.122 | 26 |
| 5. | Massa | Ferrari | 1:15.293 | +0.129 | 23 |
| 6. | Raikkonen | Ferrari | 1:15.382 | +0.218 | 25 |
| 7. | Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:15.389 | +0.225 | 23 |
| 8. | Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1:15.722 | +0.558 | 23 |
| 9. | Rosberg | Williams-Toyota | 1:15.758 | +0.594 | 23 |
| 10. | Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1:15.985 | +0.821 | 24 |
| 11. | Nakajima | Williams-Toyota | 1:16.103 | +0.939 | 22 |
| 12. | Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1:16.228 | +1.064 | 20 |
| 13. | Bourdais | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:16.301 | +1.137 | 23 |
| 14. | Fisichella | Force India-Mercedes | 1:16.317 | +1.153 | 29 |
| 15. | Piquet | Renault | 1:16.382 | +1.218 | 27 |
| 16. | Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:16.432 | +1.268 | 22 |
| 17. | Glock | Toyota | 1:16.527 | +1.363 | 29 |
| 18. | Kubica | BMW Sauber | 1:16.599 | +1.435 | 26 |
| 19. | Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 1:16.661 | +1.497 | 22 |
| 20. | Trulli | Toyota | 1:16.810 | +1.646 | 26 |
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Formula one drivers turned catwalk models on Friday night, with proceeds of the Monaco fashion show pledged to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Among the models were Lewis Hamilton, Adrian Sutil, Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Nelson Piquet, Mark Webber and David Coulthard.
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Jean Alesi, the French F1 veteran of more than 200 grands prix, praised Jenson Button not only for his championship-leading form, but for his "good character". "What is happening to him now is exactly what he deserves," the 44-year-old told The Guardian. "Through all the hard times he's had, he never tried to blame anyone else," added Alesi.