Monza Practice Results
Charles Leclerc leads Monza practice while championship leader Antonelli faces back row.
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Key Points
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Kimi Antonelli leads both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton by 59 points in the championship standings, while Lando Norris sits fourth, 83 points behind Antonelli after winning the previous two grands prix.
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Monza is forecast to reach about 33°C during the weekend, with temperatures expected to peak at 35°C during Saturday’s qualifying session and no rain forecast.
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Antonelli said he was relaxed about starting from the back, saying the penalty may allow him to “enjoy more” of the driving and the weekend itself; he is also seeking to become the first Italian F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
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The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for 53 laps, with the race starting at 3 p.m. local time, or 9 a.m. Eastern time, on Sunday, September 6.
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Several teams have additional driver substitutions during the weekend: Paul Aron is taking over Alpine’s FP1 seat, while Luke Browning is replacing Alexander Albon for Williams in FP1; Cadillac’s listed drivers are Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas.
Charles Leclerc topped Friday's opening practice at Monza with a time of 1:23.008, leading Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.173 seconds in a dominant one-two for the Italian team. The result comes as championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid after Mercedes fitted him with a new power unit beyond his seasonal allocation, opening the door for rivals to close his 59-point title lead RacingNews365.
George Russell finished third in practice, while Red Bull's Liam Lawson placed fourth and Antonelli fifth, 0.636 seconds off the pace. The German team heads into the weekend with an upgraded power unit and Michael Schumacher-inspired livery, while McLaren debuted a rotating rear wing design to cut drag down Monza's long straights The Race.
Ferrari's Home Upgrade Delivers Early Pace
Ferrari brought a new power unit featuring enhanced performance and low-drag bodywork specifically built for Monza's speed-focused layout. The upgraded engine adds roughly 15 horsepower, translating directly into gains on Monza's high-speed corners and long straights where sustained power matters most Racer. Leclerc's 1:23.008 benchmark on medium tires suggests the upgrade is working as intended heading into Saturday's qualifying session.
Antonelli's Penalty Reshapes Title Race Odds
The championship leader will start 20th on Sunday after triggering a back-of-the-grid penalty for exceeding his power unit component allocation. Antonelli brushed off the setback, saying the penalty allows him to "enjoy more" of the driving and weekend Formula 1. However, analysts note the decision creates a higher-variance scenario where Russell and Ferrari can gain ground quickly through track position and cleaner air.
Antonelli's 59-point lead over Russell and Hamilton remains substantial, but a poor result Sunday could compress the gap significantly. He is chasing history—attempting to become the first Italian F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953 Formula 1.
McLaren Debuts Rotating Rear Wing Design
McLaren introduced an H-wing rotating rear wing at Monza, designed to optimize aerodynamic efficiency by shifting wing angle on the straights versus corners. The innovation underscores McLaren's push to maximize drag reduction on circuits where top speed dominates The Race. Lando Norris, who won the previous two grands prix, sits fourth in the championship 83 points behind Antonelli and will target a third consecutive victory Sunday.
Extreme Heat and Power Management Define Sunday
Monza is forecast to reach 35°C on Saturday and stay hot through race day, with track temperatures exceeding 50°C during Friday practice. Energy management and hybrid power deployment become critical in these conditions, as cooling demands drain battery reserves faster SPEEDWEEK. No rain is forecast for the entire weekend, guaranteeing a dry, high-grip surface Sunday.
The 53-lap race begins at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. Eastern) on Sunday, September 6. U.S. viewers can watch on Apple TV, UK viewers on Sky Sports, and viewers in India on FanCode with F1 TV Pro Formula 1.
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