Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap of first free practice for the Italian Grand Prix, clocking 1m23.008 s on medium tyres and putting Ferrari on a 1‑2 grid ahead of Max Verstappen.
Ferrari’s 1‑2 on the Fast Card
Leclerc’s time, posted midway through the first of three practice sessions, eclipsed teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.173 s and earned the home fans a moment of pride on Monza.
Under a blistering summer afternoon that pushed track temperatures above 31 °C, Ferrari’s upgraded package—featuring a low‑drag rear wing and a second power‑unit update aimed at narrowing the Mercedes power gap—displayed immediate results.
Interruptions and Rookie Runs
The session was briefly halted when Colton Herta’s Cadillac suffered hydraulic failure, forcing a red flag. Herta, competing for a super licence point, would not earn one after Monza due to insufficient mileage.
After the red flag, 34 minutes of racing resumed. British driver George Russell went on to place third, lap 1m23.312 s on soft compound, while Liam Lawson claimed fourth on the team’s throttle.
Other rookies took advantage of the mandatory FP1 slot: Ayumu Iwasa substituted for Max Verstappen, Luke Browning drove in Alex Albon’s car, and Paul Aron stayed in Pierre Gasly’s vehicle for Alpine.
Grid‑Facing Penalties and Solid Standings
Championship leader Oscar Piastri stacked fifth, with ZX competitor Yuki Tsunoda occupying the next spot after a seat change. Antonelli faced a back‑of‑the‑grid penalty for a power‑unit change, but he was already refining his race set‑up.
Norris dropped to sixth behind Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto. Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron rounded out the top ten, showcasing the depth of young talent on the track.
Heat‑Hazard Measures and Future Outlook
Given the forecasted high temperatures, the FIA imposed a heat‑hazard declaration, requiring drivers to wear cooling vests or carry extra ballast to maintain safety.
With Ferrari’s on‑track performance bolstered by the latest upgrades, the team enters the race weekend poised, yet the real test will come when the cars hit the same fiery conditions on race day.
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