In the opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Charles Leclerc emerged as the fastest driver, securing a one‑two finish for Ferrari with his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, taking second place. The session highlighted the impact of Ferrari's newly introduced engine upgrade, which the team chose to debut on their home turf after the FIA’s technical assessments indicated that their power unit lagged behind those of Red Bull and Mercedes. Leclerc posted a best lap of 1:23.008, a full 0.173 seconds ahead of Hamilton, while Mercedes driver George Russell completed the top three, finishing another tenth of a second behind the British driver. The performance gap underscored the effectiveness of the upgrades and the high‑speed nature of the Monza circuit, where even minor gains can translate into significant time differences.
World championship hopeful Kimi Antonelli, who is set to start the race from the very back of the grid due to exceeding his allocated engine components for the season, managed to climb to fifth place in the practice rankings. His strong showing, despite the penalty, demonstrates his raw speed and potential as a rising star. Following Antonelli, McLaren’s Lando Norris, who has won the last two races and is keen to defend his title, recorded the sixth‑fastest time.
The current championship standings show Antonelli leading the pack with a 59‑point advantage over both Russell and Hamilton, while Norris sits 83 points behind the Italian driver in fourth place. These numbers reflect the tightly contested nature of the title fight as the season approaches its climax.
Ferrari strategically deployed the second of the two engine upgrades they are permitted to use this season at Monza, hoping the high‑speed straights would maximize the benefit. In addition to the power‑unit enhancement, the Scuderia introduced a suite of chassis modifications specifically tailored for the circuit’s unique demands. These changes were designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency and stability at the extreme velocities that Monza demands. Both Leclerc’s and Hamilton’s quickest laps were set on the medium‑compound tyre, which is notable because the medium tyre generally offers a balance between grip and durability rather than outright speed.
Meanwhile, Russell’s best effort came on the softer compound, which is theoretically quicker but wears out more rapidly. This suggests that Ferrari’s package was not only powerful but also well‑balanced across tyre selections, allowing their drivers to extract maximum performance without resorting to the softest rubber. It is worth noting that Antonelli’s qualifying position is effectively irrelevant for the race, as his engine‑part penalty forces him to start from the back regardless of his lap time. Consequently, the Mercedes team may have been able to conceal additional pace during the session, focusing instead on long‑run performance rather than outright single‑lap speed.
Red Bull’s Liam Lawson delivered an encouraging fourth‑place effort for the team, despite the fact that the lineup did not feature either of Red Bull’s official 2026 drivers. Lawson was standing in for Isack Hadjar, who missed the weekend after sustaining a wrist injury during the sport’s summer break.
Max Verstappen also took part in the session, allowing four drivers to rotate and give rookies valuable track time. Among the younger drivers, Ayumu Iwasa finished 17th in Verstappen’s Red Bull car, while Paul Aron emerged as the top rookie, securing a tenth‑place finish for Alpine. Their performances highlight the depth of talent in the feeder series and the importance of gaining experience on a demanding circuit like Monza.
Cadillac’s Colton Herta saw his opportunity to drive for the team cut short by a technical glitch, and British driver Luke Browning placed 15th for Williams, rounding out a diverse field of competitors. The weekend’s schedule is packed with action across multiple categories. On Friday, September 4, the day begins with Formula 3 qualifying at 12:55 pm, followed by Formula 2 qualifying at 1:50 pm, and then the first practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at 2:35 pm. The day concludes with The F1 Show at 3:00 pm, and a press conference with team principals at 4:15 pm.
Saturday, September 5, kicks off with 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 qualifying build‑up for the Italian Grand Prix starts at 2:15 pm, leading into the main qualifying session at 3:00 pm, with a post‑qualifying analysis segment, "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 day itself begins with a build‑up segment at 12:30 pm, the race start at 2:00 pm, and a post‑race reaction show at 4:00 pm, followed by another edition of "Ted’s Notebook" at 5:00 pm.
The qualifying session is also broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time.
This accessibility ensures that the excitement of Ferrari’s home race, the strategic debut of their engine upgrade, and the intense battles across the Formula 1 grid are available to a global audience.