Charles Leclerc set the pace in Free Practice 1 for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, leading team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari one-two at Monza.

In front of the tifosi, Leclerc produced a late-session benchmark of 1:23.008 to finish 0.173 seconds clear of Hamilton, with Mercedes’ George Russell completing the top three.

The opening minutes saw drivers gradually build pace around the high-speed Autodromo Nazionale Monza, with Esteban Ocon initially setting the benchmark before Leclerc moved to the top with a 1:26.873. Russell then lowered the target significantly to 1:25.259 on medium tyres.

Liam Lawson was among the first to switch to soft tyres and briefly moved into contention, while Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri also featured near the front as the times continued to tumble.

Leclerc then demonstrated Ferrari’s early potential by setting a 1:24.482 on the hard compound, only for Lawson to edge ahead by less than a tenth. The order remained fluid throughout the first half of the session, with Hamilton subsequently moving to the top before Russell responded with a 1:23.802.

Lando Norris then went quicker still with a 1:23.719, putting McLaren at the head of the field shortly before the session was interrupted.

Cadillac rookie Colton Herta had completed only five laps when he stopped at the side of the circuit near the Lesmos. A Virtual Safety Car was initially deployed before the session was red-flagged to allow the American's car to be recovered. Herta had been instructed to stop the car and appeared to be unable to select a gear.

Running resumed with just over 30 minutes remaining, and the Mercedes drivers were among the first back on track. Antonelli immediately moved to the top of the timesheets before Russell improved to 1:23.312.

However, Leclerc soon delivered the decisive lap. Running on medium tyres, the Monegasque driver set a 1:23.008 to take top spot. Hamilton subsequently moved into second place with a 1:23.181, sealing an encouraging start to Ferrari's home weekend.

Russell finished third, 0.304 seconds behind Leclerc, while Lawson continued his strong session to take fourth for Red Bull. Antonelli was fifth ahead of Norris.

Arvid Lindblad impressed in seventh for Racing Bulls, followed by Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine's Franco Colapinto. Paul Aron completed the top 10 after a late improvement, narrowly pushing Piastri down to 11th.

Behind them, Yuki Tsunoda was 12th ahead of Nico Hülkenberg and Oliver Bearman. The Williams pairing of Luke Browning and Carlos Sainz finished 15th and 16th respectively.

At the bottom of the order, Herta's early stoppage left him 22nd and last, more than six seconds away from the fastest time after his curtailed session.

2026 FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix – Free Practice 1 
1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:23.008 29 251.238
2 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:23.181 0.173 26 250.715
3 George Russell Mercedes 1:23.312 0.304 27 250.321
4 Liam Lawson Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 1:23.433 0.425 26 249.958
5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:23.644 0.636 27 249.328
6 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:23.719 0.711 26 249.104
7 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1:23.802 0.794 29 248.858
8 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 1:24.006 0.998 21 248.253
9 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Mercedes 1:24.028 1.020 27 248.188
10 Paul Aron Alpine/Mercedes 1:24.177 1.169 23 247.749
11 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:24.184 1.176 26 247.728
12 Yuki Tsunoda Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1:24.571 1.563 27 246.595
13 Nico Hülkenberg Audi 1:24.626 1.618 27 246.434
14 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:24.646 1.638 28 246.376
15 Luke Browning Williams/Mercedes 1:24.740 1.732 25 246.103
16 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:24.827 1.819 25 245.850
17 Ayumu Iwasa Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 1:24.873 1.865 24 245.717
18 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:25.852 2.844 26 242.915
19 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac/Ferrari 1:25.984 2.976 27 242.542
20 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Honda 1:26.066 3.058 23 242.311
21 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Honda 1:26.072 3.064 21 242.294
22 Colton Herta Cadillac/Ferrari 1:29.922 6.914 5 231.920