Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima would finish in third and fifth after the final practice session at Monza but heavy rain would affect the running during that hour long session. With the heavy rain still playing its part the opening twenty minute period of qualifying for the 2008 Italian Grand Prix would get underway with a rush of drivers taking to the track. This would include both Nico and Kazuki. Everyone except for Hamilton had left the pit lane. Hamilton would finally come out with all the drivers running on the full wet weather tyre. Heidfeld would spin at the Parabolica prior to starting his lap. He would continue while Glock would set the first time with a 1m:39.655. Sutil was next with a 1m:41.484 followed by Piquet, and Heidfeld. Bourdais was now second, 1m:41.157, with Sutil in third.

Nico was in thirteenth with a 1m:48.794. Kazuki was down in eighteenth. Hamilton was now third with a 1m:39.259. Sutil had improved to be second, 1m:38.920. But Trulli and Heidfeld would move into second and third. Barrichello was now fourth and Nico fifth, 1m:38.640. Kovalainen was now second with a 1m:37.571. It was all happening with the positions changing rapidly. Nico was down in seventh. Kazuki had moved up to sixteenth. Raikkonen was last but with a 1m:38.592 was now eleventh. Bourdais was now third, 1m:37.679. Kovalainen moved ahead of Glock to be fastest with a 1m:36.405. Sutil was in third followed by Bourdais. Nico had dropped to fourteenth and Kazuki nineteenth.

On his next lap Nico was in second with a 1m:36.667. This would become third when Vettel moved ahead of him, 1m:36.576. Glock was now fifth followed by Kubica, Coulthard, Sutil, Bourdais, and Alonso in tenth. Kazuki was now in twentieth with a 1m:40.148. Hamilton was now second, 1m:36.134, as Nico was fourth with a 1m:36.306. Massa was now fifth, 1m:36.627. Alonso was now sixth as Kazuki improved to be eighteenth, 1m:38.322. Heidfeld was now second, 1m:35.992, as several drivers pitted with seven minutes left in the period. Button would miss the first chicane and he was not alone as Kubica and Piquet had also missed this corner.

Nico would improve to now be in second, 1m:35.858, but Massa would move past him, 1m:35.799. Raikkonen was now seventh, 1m:36.335. Everyone was now back out on the track with four and a half minutes left. The order was Kovalainen from Massa, Nico, Heidfeld, Hamilton, Vettel, Glock, Raikkonen, Trulli, and Webber in tenth. Kazuki was now sixteenth and looking at not making the cut. Kovalainen would improve with a 1m:35.214. Nico was now back in second, 1m:35.791. Kovalainen would pit as Bourdais moved into third, 1m:35.794. Kubica would improve to be in seventh. Hamilton was down in eighth. Heidfeld would improve to be in third, 1m:35.709.

Kazuki was now in nineteenth and out of it as the period came to an end. Hamilton was now second with a 1m:35.394 as Nico pitted. Those not making the cut were Barrichello, Piquet, Kazuki, Button, and Sutil. So it was Kovalainen from Hamilton, Vettel, Nico, Massa, Bourdais, Kubica, Heidfeld, Glock, and Trulli in tenth.

With only one Williams driver in the second period the rain continued to fall. The drivers would come out quickly eager to set a time in the difficult conditions. Nico was out with them as Bourdais straight lined the first chicane. Fisichella was fastest with a 1m:36.785 followed by Alonso. But Trulli and Webber would move into first and second. Kovalainen was now fastest with a 1m:35.843. Nico was in twelfth with a 1m:41.681. Trulli's time was a 1m:36.008. Bourdais was in third, 1m:36.175. Vettel was fastest with a 1m:35.837. Nico had improved to be in third, 1m:35.989.

Hamilton had yet to set a time after having pitted to change from intermediates to full wets. Raikkonen would have a moment at Ascari running wide but was lucky not to hit anything. With seven minutes left Vettel was still leading from Kovalainen, Nico, Trulli, Bourdais, Webber, Alonso, Glock, Heidfeld, and Kubica in tenth. Hamilton was down in fifteenth with a 1m:39.398. The call was that there would be more rain falling. Massa was in twelfth and Raikkonen fourteenth. Vettel and Kovalainen had both pitted. Massa was now tenth, 1m:36.676.

Hamilton was really struggling as both Vettel and Kovalainen came back out. Four and a half minutes left and Hamilton was complaining about the rain. He would spin at Ascari but would recover. Everyone was back out for the final laps. Raikkonen and Hamilton were down in the final two positions. With two minutes left Hamilton was struggling as Kovalainen and Weber pitted. Championship rival Massa was in tenth so it was not looking good for Hamilton. Nico was still in an excellent third place. Massa would run wide at the second Lesmo corner but continued.

So with the end of the period those not making the cut were Kubica, Fisichella, Coulthard, Raikkonen, and Hamilton. Kubica would spin at the exit of the Ascari chicane. So the top ten was Vettel from Kovalainen, Nico, Trulli, Bourdais, Webber, Alonso, Glock, Heidfeld, and Massa.

With the rain easing a little the final period would commence with Massa leading the drivers out onto the track. Everyone was out with everyone still on the full wet weather tyre. Nico would go straight on at the first chicane as Glock set the first time with a 1m:41.396. Bourdais would go fastest with a 1m:38.910 followed by Trulli and Nico. Kovalainen was now fastest with a 1m:38.694. Bourdais was second followed by Alonso. Webber would move into third, 1m:39.433. Alonso was fourth from Trulli, Heidfeld, Vettel, and Nico. Massa would move up to fourth, 1m:39.505. Glock was slowest and Nico ninth.

Vettel was now fastest with a 1m:37.555. With three minutes left in the period Nico would move up to now be in third, 1m:38.767. Bourdais was now fourth. Webber would push Nico down to fourth as the Red Bull went third fastest. Kovalainen had improved but remained in second. Bourdais would spin exiting Ascari as the rain got heavier. He was able to continue. With the conditions getting worse it would be hard to imagine anyone improving. The period would end with Vettel still fastest from Kovalainen, Webber, Bourdais, Nico, and Massa had improved to sixth on his last lap. Trulli was seventh followed by Alonso, Glock, and Heidfeld.

Nico's fifth place in the difficult conditions was a great result for the Williams driver. He now has a good chance of securing a points scoring result for the team but what with the weather conditions so far over the weekend the race could still be somewhat of a lottery. Kazuki's performance to finish in eighteenth was again disappointing and realistically he can only hope to at least finish what should be a fascinating race.