Leclerc Dominates Monza as Ferrari Shine in Practice

Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari exactly the start they craved at Monza, topping first practice for the Italian Grand Prix and sending a jolt of energy through the tifosi on a sweltering Friday.

The Monegasque driver clocked a lap 0.173 seconds quicker than Lewis Hamilton, edging out the seven-time world champion as Ferrari laid down an early marker at their home race. George Russell backed up Mercedes’ strong opening salvo in third, but this was very much Ferrari’s session – and Leclerc’s.

Behind the familiar names, one stood out. Liam Lawson, back in the Red Bull seat in place of the injured Isack Hadjar, surged to an impressive fourth. On a circuit that punishes hesitation and rewards commitment, the stand-in delivered, finishing ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes.

Antonelli, the Italian carrying the weight of a title charge and the expectations of a home crowd, ended the session 0.636 seconds off Leclerc’s benchmark. On the timesheets, it looked ordinary. In context, it matters. He arrives at Monza with a 59-point cushion over Hamilton and Russell in the drivers’ standings, but his weekend is already compromised.

The key detail: Antonelli will start from the back of the grid on Sunday, hit with a penalty for taking a new power unit. Ferrari know it. The fans know it. This is their opening.

The heat only added to the edge of the session. Track temperatures soared, grip ebbed and flowed, and mistakes lurked at every braking zone. The rhythm broke completely when the red flags came out, rookie Colton Herta grinding to a halt out on circuit with a hydraulic issue. Standing in for regular Cadillac driver Sergio Perez, Herta’s running was cut short, his car stranded and his debut appearance interrupted.

When the session resumed, Leclerc and Ferrari tightened their grip. Lap after lap, the red car looked planted through the Lesmos, sharp into the Variante della Roggia, and ferocious down the straights. The numbers told the story: Leclerc on top, Hamilton chasing, Mercedes lurking, Lawson impressing, Antonelli playing catch-up.

For Ferrari, this is the scenario they had hoped for. Their main title rival is marooned at the back for Sunday’s start. Their lead driver looks hooked up from the first laps. The home grand prix, under the relentless Italian sun, has opened with the crowd’s favourite in control.

Practice times rarely decide a weekend. At Monza, with Ferrari smelling opportunity and Antonelli forced into a recovery drive, they can certainly shape it.