Leclerc Leads Ferrari in Dominant FP1 at Monza

Charles Leclerc lit up Monza in the opening practice session of the Italian Grand Prix weekend, topping the timesheets and leading a Ferrari one-two in front of the tifosi.

The Ferrari driver set the early benchmark and kept it there, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton slotting in behind to underline the strength of the Maranello squad on home asphalt. For a team desperate to turn emotion into results at Monza, it was the kind of start that sharpens belief.

Mercedes had to settle for best-of-the-rest in the opening hour. George Russell ended the session fourth fastest in the leading Silver Arrow, unable to split the red cars but firmly in the mix near the front.

Just behind came one of the stories of the session. Liam Lawson, back in the Red Bull cockpit in place of the injured Isack Hadjar, wasted no time reminding the paddock of his raw pace. The New Zealander clocked the fifth-fastest time, an assured return that will not go unnoticed as seats and futures are quietly discussed up and down the grid.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was next up for Mercedes in fifth on the charts, keeping his title push on a steady footing. Lando Norris, chasing a third straight victory this weekend, rounded out the top six as he eased his way into the Monza rhythm rather than chasing headlines on a Friday.

Among the rookies, Alpine’s Paul Aron made the strongest impression. He guided his car into 10th place, a tidy, composed performance that hinted at more to come as grip builds and fuel loads drop.

Not everyone enjoyed a smooth start. Colton Herta endured a bruising third FP1 outing with Cadillac, his session cut short after just five laps when his car broke down. On a day built for mileage and data, he was left watching from the garage, his weekend instantly on the back foot.

Ferrari, though, walked away from FP1 with exactly what it wanted: clear speed, a partisan crowd already in full voice, and the sense that this might be a Monza weekend with real bite.