Leclerc leads Hamilton in Ferrari 1-2 at Monza FP1
Synopsis
Ferrari turned Monza into a home celebration before qualifying even began — Leclerc and Hamilton going 1-2 in FP1, with the Tifosi in full voice. Championship leader Antonelli could only manage fifth, and four rookies added an unpredictable edge to a session that was briefly red-flagged by a Colton Herta hydraulic scare.
Key Takeaways
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in Monza FP1 with a lap of 1:23.008 on 4 September .
Lewis Hamilton was second, giving Ferrari a 1-2 finish in front of their home crowd.
George Russell (Mercedes) was third; Kimi Antonelli , the F1 championship leader, was fifth.
Liam Lawson finished fourth, deputising for the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull.
Four rookies ran in FP1, including Ayumu Iwasa in Max Verstappen 's Red Bull, who finished 17th .
A brief red flag was shown after Colton Herta stopped on track with a suspected hydraulic issue.
Charles Leclerc topped the timesheet ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton as Ferrari locked out the top two positions in the First Practice session (FP1) of the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Friday, 4 September. Racing in a Michael Schumacher-inspired SF-26 livery, the Ferrari pair thrilled a passionate Tifosi crowd in sweltering, sunny conditions.
Session Result and Top Times
Leclerc clocked the fastest lap of the hour-long session with a time of 1:23.008, finishing nearly two-tenths of a second clear of Hamilton. Mercedes driver George Russell was third, roughly three-tenths off the pace. Liam Lawson, deputising for the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull for a second consecutive race, came home fourth.
Kimi Antonelli — the current Formula 1 championship leader — was fifth, more than six-tenths adrift of Leclerc. The top 10 was completed by Lando Norris (McLaren), Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Franco Colapinto (Alpine), and Paul Aron (Alpine).
Rookie Appearances and Incumbent Absences
Four rookies took to the track as several regular drivers sat out the opening practice, as is customary under F1's mandatory rookie-running rules. Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion, was among those absent — Ayumu Iwasa took the wheel of his Red Bull and finished 17th.
Other stand-ins included Luke Browning replacing Alex Albon at Williams, Paul Aron replacing Pierre Gasly at Alpine, and Colton Herta substituting for Sergio Perez at Cadillac.
How the Session Unfolded
Iwasa led the queue of drivers onto the circuit at the session's start, with teams experimenting across hard, medium, and soft tyre compounds in the early laps. Russell set the early benchmark at 1:23.802 before a yellow flag — and a brief red flag — was triggered when Herta stopped on track with a suspected hydraulic issue.
Once the session resumed, Norris moved to the top with a 1:23.719, before Leclerc seized the lead with his 1:23.008 lap to a roar from the Tifosi. In the final quarter, Hamilton climbed from third to second past Russell, while Lawson also moved up to fourth ahead of Antonelli. No driver could improve on Leclerc's benchmark for the remainder of the session.
What to Watch Next
With Ferrari demonstrating strong one-lap pace on home soil, attention will now shift to FP2 and long-run simulations that will reveal more about race-day tyre degradation at Monza's high-speed layout. Lawson's performance under pressure — with Hadjar's Red Bull seat at stake — will also be closely monitored through the rest of the weekend.
Point of View
With mandatory rookie running distorting the grid, rarely predicts Sunday. The more telling number is Antonelli sitting sixth-tenths off in a session he needed to dominate to reassert his championship credentials. If Ferrari's race pace matches their qualifying speed, Monza could deliver a headline the entire paddock will feel.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Monza FP1 at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix?
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari set the fastest time in FP1 at Monza with a lap of 1:23.008 on 4 September, leading teammate Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari 1-2. George Russell was third for Mercedes.
Why was Monza FP1 red-flagged?
The session was briefly red-flagged after Colton Herta, standing in for Sergio Perez at Cadillac, stopped on track with a suspected hydraulic issue. The car was cleared and the session resumed shortly after.
Why was Max Verstappen absent from Monza FP1?
Verstappen sat out FP1 as part of Formula 1's mandatory rookie-running regulation, with Ayumu Iwasa taking the wheel of his Red Bull. Iwasa finished 17th in the session.
How did Liam Lawson perform in Monza FP1?
Lawson finished fourth, ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, in his second consecutive race start for Red Bull as cover for the injured Isack Hadjar. His performance will be closely watched as he bids to secure his seat.
What is the significance of Ferrari's SF-26 livery at Monza?
Ferrari ran a Michael Schumacher-inspired livery on their SF-26 cars at the Italian Grand Prix, a tribute to the seven-time world champion who won five of his titles with the team. The gesture resonated strongly with the Tifosi in the grandstands.
