Latest from Monza: Ferrari Dominate Monza FP1 as Charles Leclerc Leads Lewis Hamilton following dramatic One-Two win…Read more

Ferrari Dominate Monza FP1 as Charles Leclerc Leads Lewis Hamilton following dramatic One-Two win
Ferrari have made a sensational start to their home Italian Grand Prix weekend, with Charles Leclerc leading team-mate Lewis Hamilton to a commanding one-two finish in the opening Free Practice session at Monza.
Leclerc set the pace with a fastest lap of 1:23.008, finishing around a tenth of a second ahead of Hamilton as the Ferrari duo immediately demonstrated strong pace around the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
The result will provide a major boost for Ferrari and the passionate Tifosi, particularly after the team introduced an engine upgrade for the Italian Grand Prix weekend. Hamilton had already expressed confidence in Ferrari’s chances before arriving at Monza, and the seven-time world champion’s FP1 performance offered early evidence that the Scuderia could be genuine contenders this weekend.
Mercedes driver George Russell finished third, roughly three-tenths of a second behind Leclerc, while Liam Lawson impressed in fourth. The Racing Bulls driver is standing in for Isack Hadjar at Red Bull this weekend, adding another interesting storyline to the opening session.
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto also enjoyed a strong session, finishing eighth, while McLaren struggled to match the leading Ferrari pace. Championship contender Lando Norris ended FP1 down in sixth, a notable gap considering McLaren’s victories at the previous two Grands Prix.
Ferrari’s advantage will nevertheless need to be treated with caution. Friday’s opening practice session is primarily about gathering data, evaluating upgrades and preparing for qualifying and the race. The true competitive picture should become clearer as the weekend progresses.
For Ferrari, however, there could hardly have been a better opening to their home race.
With Leclerc first and Hamilton second, the Scuderia have immediately put themselves at the centre of attention at Monza — and the Tifosi will now be dreaming of a Ferrari victory on Sunday.