Charles Leclerc claimed the fastest time in the opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix, delivering a one‑two finish for his team alongside teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Monaco‑born driver posted a lap of 1:23.008, edging Hamilton by 0.173 seconds, while Mercedes' George Russell completed the top three, a tenth of a second slower than the British driver. The session also featured world‑championship contender Kimi Antonelli, who, despite having exceeded his allocated engine components for the season and therefore being forced to start from the back of the grid on Sunday, managed to secure fifth place for Mercedes. McLaren’s Lando Norris, fresh off victories in the previous two races and eager to defend his title, finished sixth, trailing Antonelli.
In the championship standings, Antonelli currently leads the pack with a 59‑point advantage over both Russell and Hamilton, while Norris sits 83 points behind the Italian driver in fourth place. Ferrari chose their home event at Monza to introduce the second of the two engine upgrades permitted under the season’s regulations. The FIA had previously determined that Ferrari’s power unit lagged behind the outputs of Red Bull and Mercedes, prompting the team to bring a fresh package of engine enhancements. In addition to the power‑unit upgrade, the Scuderia also fitted a suite of chassis modifications specifically designed for the high‑speed demands of the Monza circuit, aiming to extract maximum aerodynamic efficiency on the long straights.
Both Leclerc’s and Hamilton’s quickest laps were set on the medium‑compound tyre, a surprising detail given that the soft tyre is theoretically faster. Russell, however, achieved his best time on the soft compound, suggesting that the Mercedes may have hidden performance potential that was not fully displayed in the session, especially considering Antonelli’s lack of pressure to qualify well due to his predetermined back‑of‑the‑grid start. Red Bull’s Liam Lawson delivered a solid fourth‑place effort, driving for a Red Bull entry that did not feature any of the team’s official 2026 drivers.
Lawson was standing in for Isack Hadjar, who missed the weekend after sustaining a wrist injury during the summer break. Max Verstappen also took part in the session, allowing four drivers to be replaced by rookies for the practice run. Among the newcomers, Ayumu Iwasa finished 17th in Verstappen’s Red Bull car, while Paul Aron emerged as the highest‑placed rookie, clocking tenth for Alpine.
Cadillac’s Colton Herta saw his opportunity cut short by a technical glitch, and British driver Luke Browning placed 15th for Williams. The weekend’s schedule is packed with support series and additional content. On Friday, September 4, the day begins with the Formula 3 qualifying session at 12:55 pm, followed by Formula 2 qualifying at 1:50 pm, and the second practice for the Italian Grand Prix at 2:35 pm.
The F1 Show airs at 3:00 pm, and the Team Bosses’ Press Conference follows at 4:15 pm, with the day concluding at 5:20 pm with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. Saturday, September 5, kicks off with the Formula 3 Sprint at 8:25 am, then the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 11:15 am (starting at 11:30 am). The Formula 2 Sprint runs at 1:10 pm, followed by the build‑up to the Grand Prix qualifying at 2:15 pm. The main qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix begins at 3:00 pm, with the results broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event.
The day wraps up with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5:00 pm. Sunday, September 6, features the Formula 3 Feature Race at 7:10 am, the Formula 2 Feature Race at 8:40 am, and the Porsche Supercup Race at 10:40 am. The Grand Prix build‑up starts at 12:30 pm, leading into the Italian Grand Prix itself at 2:00 pm. The chequered flag falls at 4:00 pm, followed by a reaction segment at 5:00 pm, and concludes with Ted’s Notebook.
For fans wishing to watch the action live, the Italian Grand Prix will be broadcast on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW – a contract‑free service that can be cancelled at any time. The race marks a crucial moment for Ferrari, who hope the new engine and chassis upgrades will close the performance gap to Red Bull and Mercedes, while drivers like Leclerc and Hamilton look to capitalize on their early‑session speed heading into qualifying and the race itself.