Monza Madness Begins: Follow Live Updates from F1's Italian Grand Prix First Practice

The Italian Grand Prix weekend kicked off with an eventful first practice session at Monza. As the lights turned green, drivers eagerly took to the track, with all eyes on the highly anticipated debut of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian sensation wasted no time in making his mark, setting the fastest lap early in the session.

Red Bull and Verstappen's Mixed Start

Reigning champion Max Verstappen had a rocky beginning to his weekend. A very tardy practice start saw him completely bog down and drop into anti-stall. As the session progressed, Verstappen encountered a few more hiccups, including a late braking moment at the first chicane and a tricky pass attempt on a Haas. However, the Dutchman eventually found his rhythm and blitzed the pack with a blistering lap time of 1m21.676s, showcasing Red Bull's formidable pace once again.

Ferrari Delights the Tifosi

The home crowd had reason to cheer as Charles Leclerc briefly topped the timesheets with a 1m21.904s lap. His teammate Carlos Sainz also showed promising pace, demonstrating Ferrari's potential for a strong showing at their home race.

Surprise Performances and Rookie Impressions

Valtteri Bottas raised eyebrows with a surprise stint at the top of the leaderboard, while McLaren's Lando Norris consistently featured near the front. Rookie Franco Colapinto made a steady if unspectacular start, placing ninth fastest and about six-tenths off his more experienced teammate Alex Albon.

Drama for Antonelli

The session was not without incident, as Antonelli's promising start came to an abrupt end. The young driver lost control at the final corner, making heavy contact with the barriers and bringing out the red flags. While disappointing for the Italian, Mercedes confirmed they had spare parts, ensuring the crash would not impact their weekend plans.

Close Competition at the Top

As the checkered flag fell, it became clear that there was very little separating Verstappen, Ferrari, and McLaren at the front. This tight competition sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting qualifying session and race weekend at the Temple of Speed.