Hamilton fastest as Ferrari make flying start at Monza

Lewis Hamilton led team-mate Charles Leclerc in an impressive one-two as Ferrari made a flying start to their home Italian Grand Prix in Practice One at Monza.

​​​​​​A year on from Leclerc's emotional victory in front of the Tifosi for the home team at Monza, Ferrari's car impressed again straight away in the unique low-downforce conditions required at F1's 'Temple of Speed'.

Leclerc had proved the quickest of the two Ferraris and led the timesheet until the closing minutes of the opening session when Hamilton uncorked a 1:20.177 to pip his team-mate by 0.1s, ensuring he marked his debut session as a Ferrari driver at Monza in eye-catching fashion.

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Hamilton already knows he will start Sunday's race from no higher than sixth due to a grid penalty carried over from last week in Zandvoort for a yellow-flag infringement ahead of that race, but will surely be buoyed by his strong start on a track where he is the joint-record holder for wins.

"He needs to enjoy these moments," said Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok.

"Maybe they have their engines turned up, maybe they haven't, it will all become clear tomorrow. But it's a good start to the weekend. Enjoy it."

Williams can also be pleased with their start to the event on a track they have gone well at in the recent past with Carlos Sainz finishing third, albeit 0.5s back on Hamilton.

With Max Verstappen fourth in the Red Bull, dominant championship leaders McLaren unusually started well off the pace. Lando Norris was sixth and 0.9s back on Hamilton after difficulties on his soft-tyre runs, including a trip through the gravel at the high-speed Lesmos.

Championship leader Oscar Piastri sat out the opening session as McLaren gave a second outing of the season to Ireland's Alex Dunne. The F2 front-runner finished 18th quickest, half a second behind Norris.

Italy's Kimi Antonelli was fifth fastest at the start of his first full Italian GP race weekend but Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who was eighth quickest, finished the session by stopping at the side of the track due to a suspected hydraulics fault on his car.

More to follow...

Sky Sports F1's Italian GP schedule

Friday September 5
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Italian Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show

Saturday September 6
8.10am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Italian Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 11:30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Italian Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
3pm: ITALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday September 7
7.10am: F3 Feature Race
8.40am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted's Notebook

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1's European season concludes with the Italian Grand Prix - watch the whole Monza weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime