Ferrari dominates opening session of Monza Grand Prix

The 13th race weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season commenced on September 4 at the Monza circuit in Italy, with Ferrari making a strong impression during the first free practice session (FP1). Local favorite Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of 1:23.008 using an upgraded Ferrari power unit, followed by his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who trailed by 0.173 seconds. George Russell secured the third spot for Mercedes, finishing 0.304 seconds behind the leader. Liam Lawson and Kimi Antonelli completed the top five, while McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showed slower pace, finishing 0.7 and 1.1 seconds off the lead respectively.

Notable absentees from the FP1 session included Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez, as teams opted to field young drivers in their places. Following the initial success of Ferrari, the second practice session saw George Russell demonstrate competitive speed for Mercedes amidst high track temperatures. The results suggest a tightly contested weekend ahead as teams refine their vehicle setups for the historic high-speed circuit, setting the stage for qualifying and the race.