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Updated · ESPN · Sep 4Leclerc Tops Monza FP1 in 1:26.153 as Ferrari Secures Home One-Two
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Sep 4Summary
- Charles Leclerc opened Ferrari’s home weekend fastest at Monza, clocking 1:26.153 to lead Lewis Hamilton by 0.173 seconds in first practice.
- George Russell was third and Liam Lawson fourth, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fifth, 0.636 seconds off the pace.
- Antonelli’s session mattered less for Sunday’s grid because the 20-year-old will start from the back after taking a new engine.
- Lando Norris, arriving after back-to-back wins in Hungary and the Netherlands, was sixth and still trails Antonelli by 83 points in the title race.
- Monza’s Friday also ran under a declared heat hazard, with teams rotating rookies in FP1 before second practice later in the day.
Insights
Will Ferrari’s risky engine upgrade finally erase their power deficit, or is their impressive practice pace just a Friday illusion? Can Lando Norris overcome a resurgent Ferrari team at their high-speed home race to keep his thrilling title defense alive? With severe grid penalties looming, will rookie Kimi Antonelli sacrifice his own race to orchestrate a strategic masterclass for Mercedes?