In the opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Charles Leclerc claimed the fastest lap, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton secured second place, delivering a dominant one‑two performance for Ferrari. The session highlighted the impact of Ferrari's newly introduced engine upgrade, which the team chose to debut at their home race after the FIA’s technical audit indicated that their power unit lagged behind the offerings from Red Bull and Mercedes. Leclerc recorded a lap time of 1:23.008, edging Hamilton by 0.173 seconds.
Mercedes driver George Russell trailed in third, posting a best lap that was roughly a tenth of a second slower than Hamilton’s. The young world championship hopeful Kimi Antonelli, who has already exceeded his seasonal allocation of power‑unit components and will therefore start from the back of the grid on Sunday, managed a respectable fifth‑place finish for Mercedes. McLaren’s Lando Norris, fresh from back‑to‑back victories that have revived his title aspirations, finished sixth, just behind Antonelli.
The current championship standings show Antonelli leading both Russell and Hamilton by 59 points, while Norris sits 83 points behind the Italian driver, who is currently fourth in the table. These numbers underscore the competitive pressure on the leading teams as the season approaches its climax.
Ferrari’s decision to roll out the second of their two permitted engine upgrades at Monza was a strategic move. The upgrade, coupled with a suite of chassis modifications tailored specifically for the high‑speed demands of the Monza circuit, appeared to pay immediate dividends.
Notably, both Leclerc’s and Hamilton’s quickest laps were set on the medium‑compound tyre, whereas Russell’s best effort came on the softer, theoretically quicker tyre, suggesting that Ferrari’s package was particularly well‑suited to the medium tyre’s balance of grip and durability. While Mercedes may have been holding back some performance in practice—knowing that Antonelli’s grid position is already fixed regardless of his qualifying speed—their pace was still competitive.
This hidden potential could become a factor during the race, especially if the team decides to unleash a more aggressive setup once the grid is locked in. Red Bull’s Liam Lawson delivered a solid fourth‑place finish, representing a Red Bull entry that did not feature either of the team’s official 2026 drivers. Lawson was substituting for Isack Hadjar, who missed a second consecutive race after sustaining a wrist injury during the summer break. Max Verstappen also participated in the session, allowing several rookie drivers to gain valuable track time.
Ayumu Iwasa, piloting Verstappen’s Red Bull, ended the session in 17th place, while Alpine’s Paul Aron emerged as the top rookie, finishing 10th. Cadillac’s Colton Herta saw his opportunity cut short by a technical glitch, and British youngster Luke Browning placed 15th for Williams. These varied results illustrate the depth of the field and the importance of reliability and preparation in a demanding environment like Monza.
The weekend schedule is packed with supporting series and events. On Friday, September 4, the day begins with an F3 qualifying session at 12:55 pm, followed by an F2 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 with the F1 Show at 5:20 pm.
Saturday, September 5, kicks off with an F3 sprint at 8:25 am, then the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 11:15 am (starting officially at 11:30 am). The F2 sprint follows at 1:10 pm, leading into the build‑up for the Grand Prix qualifying at 2:15 pm. The Italian Grand Prix qualifying itself begins at 3:00 pm, with the final segment of the day featuring Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5:00 pm.
Sunday, September 6, is the main event day. The schedule includes the F3 feature race at 7:10 am, the F2 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, followed by the Italian Grand Prix itself at 2:00 pm. The race concludes with the chequered flag at 4:00 pm, after which the Italian GP reaction segment airs at 5:00 pm, and Ted’s Notebook wraps up the coverage. For fans wanting to follow the action live, the Italian Grand Prix will be broadcast on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract and the option to cancel at any time. This accessibility ensures that viewers can enjoy the high‑octane drama of Ferrari’s home race, the strategic battles over engine upgrades, and the relentless pursuit of points that defines the final stretch of the Formula 1 season.