Charles Leclerc claimed the fastest time in the first practice session for the Italian Grand Prix, handing his team a one‑two sweep with teammate Lewis Hamilton slotting in second. The result underscored Ferrari's strong showing after the Scuderia unveiled a fresh engine upgrade at Monza. Leclerc posted a lap of 1:23.008, a full 0.173 seconds ahead of Hamilton, while Mercedes’ George Russell trailed another tenth of a second behind the British driver in third place.
The session also featured world‑championship hopeful Kimi Antonelli, who, after exceeding his allocated engine parts for the season, will line up at the very back of the grid on race day. Antonelli managed a respectable fifth‑place time for Mercedes, edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris, the recent back‑to‑back race winner, who finished sixth.
In the championship hierarchy, Antonelli currently sits 59 points clear of both Russell and Hamilton, who share the same points deficit to the series leader. Norris, meanwhile, trails the Italian by 83 points, occupying fourth place in the standings. Ferrari opted to roll out the second of the two engine upgrades they are permitted to use this year at their home event.
The decision came after FIA data revealed that the team's power unit had lagged behind the offerings from Red Bull and Mercedes. In addition to the power‑unit tweak, the Scuderia introduced a suite of chassis modifications tailored specifically for the high‑speed demands of Monza, aiming to extract maximum performance on the circuit’s long straights and sweeping corners. What made the performance even more impressive was that both Leclerc’s and Hamilton’s quickest laps were set on the medium‑compound tyres, whereas Russell’s best effort came on the theoretically faster soft compound. This suggests that the new Ferrari package delivered strong pace without the need for the soft tyre’s extra grip, while Mercedes may still possess latent speed that was not fully displayed in the session.
A notable storyline involved rookie driver Kimi Antonelli, who, despite knowing that his qualifying position will not affect his starting spot—he will be relegated to the back regardless—still posted a solid time. His presence highlighted the depth of talent in the field and hinted that Mercedes could possess more outright speed than the practice numbers initially suggested. Red Bull’s Liam Lawson delivered a promising fourth‑place finish for the team, which fielded a line‑up that excluded both of its official 2026 drivers.
Lawson was stepping in for Isack Hadjar, who missed a second consecutive race after sustaining a wrist injury during the summer break. Max Verstappen also took part in the session, allowing the team to give opportunities to younger drivers. Ayumu Iwasa, piloting Verstappen’s Red Bull, ended up 17th, while Alpine’s Paul Aron emerged as the top rookie, securing tenth place.
Cadillac’s representative, Colton Herta, was forced to abandon his run due to a technical glitch, and British youngster Luke Browning placed 15th for Williams. The weekend schedule is packed with support series and additional content for fans.
On Friday, September 4, the day begins with the Formula 3 qualifying session at 12:55 pm, followed by the Formula 2 qualifying at 1:50 pm, and then the second practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at 2:35 pm. The F1 Show airs at 3:00 pm, and the Team Bosses’ press conference wraps up the day at 4:15 pm, with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5:20 pm. Saturday, September 5, sees the Formula 3 sprint race at 8:25 am, the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 11:15 am (starting at 11:30 am), the Formula 2 sprint at 1:10 pm, and the build‑up to the qualifying session at 2:15 pm.
The Italian Grand Prix qualifying itself begins at 3:00 pm, with the results discussed in Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5:00 pm. The session will also be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event. Sunday, September 6, is the culmination of the weekend’s action. The Formula 3 feature race kicks off at 7:10 am, followed by 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 main event—the Italian Grand Prix—at 2:00 pm. The race will conclude with the chequered flag at 4:00 pm, after which the post‑race reaction and analysis will be aired at 5:00 pm, again featuring Ted’s Notebook.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the Italian Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1. Those who prefer streaming can access the coverage via NOW, which offers a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time.
This ensures that fans have multiple ways to follow Ferrari’s home race, whether they are watching on traditional television or through an online platform. Overall, the first practice session highlighted Ferrari’s strategic use of their allotted upgrades, delivering a clear performance advantage on a circuit that rewards both power and aerodynamic efficiency.
While Mercedes and Red Bull remain competitive, the Scuderia’s one‑two sweep in practice sets the tone for an exciting race weekend at Monza, where the historic Italian team will look to translate their technical gains into a podium‑filled result on their home turf.