Leclerc Leads Ferrari in Monza Practice 1

Charles Leclerc secured the top position in the opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, leading a Ferrari one-two finish.

Leclerc recorded a best time of 1m23.008s, finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton by 0.173 seconds, while George Russell placed third. The session took place under high temperatures, with the track nearing 50C, prompting the FIA to declare a heat hazard for the weekend.

Ferrari introduced an updated power unit and a special livery for the event. The session was briefly interrupted due to a stoppage by Cadillac reserve driver Colton Herta, who experienced a suspected hydraulic issue. As practice resumed, Leclerc's impressive lap on medium tires highlighted Ferrari's potential, although the true competitive picture will become clearer in the upcoming sessions.