In the opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Charles Leclerc claimed the fastest lap, followed closely by his teammate Lewis Hamilton, delivering a dominant one‑two finish for Ferrari. The session highlighted the impact of Ferrari's newly introduced engine upgrade, which the team debuted at their home circuit, and underscored the competitive dynamics among the front‑running teams as they prepared for Sunday’s race. Leclerc set a benchmark time of 1:23.008, edging Hamilton by 0.173 seconds. Mercedes’ George Russell occupied the third spot on the leaderboard, posting a lap that was roughly a tenth of a second slower than Hamilton’s.
Notably, both Leclerc and Hamilton achieved their best times on the medium‑compound tyres, while Russell’s quickest lap came on the softer, theoretically faster compound, suggesting that tyre strategy and track evolution played a significant role in the session’s outcomes. The practice also featured World Championship contender Kimi Antonelli, who, despite having exceeded his allocated engine components for the season, was slated to start the race from the back of the grid.
Antonelli managed a respectable fifth‑place lap for Mercedes, demonstrating that even with a compromised power unit, the driver could extract solid performance. Lando Norris, the two‑time race winner who has been fighting to retain his championship hopes, finished sixth, trailing Antonelli by a single position. In the championship standings, Antonelli currently leads both Russell and Hamilton by 59 points, while Norris sits 83 points behind the Italian driver in fourth place.
These gaps illustrate the tight competition at the top of the table and the importance of every session as the season progresses toward its climax. Ferrari chose Monza, their historic home race, to roll out the second of the two engine upgrades permitted under the season’s regulations. The decision came after the FIA’s performance assessments indicated that Ferrari’s power unit lagged behind the outputs of Red Bull and Mercedes.
By introducing the upgrade at a high‑speed venue, the Scuderia aimed to maximise the aerodynamic and power gains in a setting where straight‑line speed is paramount. In addition to the power‑unit enhancement, Ferrari brought a suite of chassis modifications specifically tailored for Monza’s fast, low‑downforce layout. These adjustments were designed to improve stability through the long straights and the iconic Parabolica corner, helping the car maintain higher average speeds without sacrificing grip.
The effectiveness of these upgrades was evident in the practice results, where both Leclerc’s and Hamilton’s laps were set on the medium tyres, indicating that the car’s balance was strong enough to deliver top‑tier performance without relying on the softest compound. Mercedes, meanwhile, appeared to be holding back a bit in practice, possibly because they knew Antonelli would start from the back regardless of his qualifying position. This strategic conservatism may have concealed the true pace of the team, suggesting that the German outfit could possess more outright speed than the session’s times revealed. Red Bull’s Liam Lawson delivered an encouraging fourth‑place effort, stepping in for Isack Hadjar, who missed the weekend due to a wrist injury sustained during the summer break.
Lawson’s performance highlighted the depth of talent within the Red Bull stable, even when the team’s regular 2026 drivers were absent. Max Verstappen, who was one of four drivers rotating out to give rookies a chance, also contributed to the session’s variety, with Ayumu Iwasa finishing 17th in a Red Bull car.
Among the newcomers, Paul Aron stood out as the highest‑placed rookie, securing a tenth‑place finish for Alpine. His solid showing underscored the growing pool of young drivers capable of competing at the highest level.
In contrast, Colton Herta’s opportunity to pilot a Cadillac entry was cut short by a technical glitch, and British driver Luke Browning placed 15th for Williams. The weekend’s schedule was packed with supporting series and media events. On Friday, the day began with the Formula 3 qualifying session at 12:55 pm, followed by Formula 2 qualifying at 1:50 pm, and then the second practice for the Italian Grand Prix at 2:35 pm.
The afternoon continued with the F1 Show at 3 pm, culminating in the Team Bosses’ Press Conference at 4:15 pm. Saturday’s agenda featured the Formula 3 sprint race at 8:25 am, the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 11:15 am, and the Formula 2 sprint at 1:10 pm.
The day’s highlight, the Grand Prix qualifying, commenced at 2:15 pm, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event. Finally, Sunday’s program included the Formula 3 feature race, the Formula 2 feature race, a Porsche Supercup race, and the main Grand Prix event, with post‑race analysis and reaction segments scheduled throughout the afternoon.
Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time. The combination of Ferrari’s home‑track advantage, strategic upgrades, and a tightly contested championship promises an exciting race weekend at Monza, where every point will be crucial in the battle for the 2026 title.