Leclerc leads Hamilton in first practice at Monza

Charles Leclerc led Lewis Hamilton in first practice at Monza, giving Ferrari an upbeat start to its home Italian Grand Prix weekend.

Lando Norris was sixth for McLaren. The world champion, who won the previous two races in Hungary and Zandvoort, followed Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Williams driver Carlos Sainz across the gravel at the Turn One chicane. George Russell and Leclerc also tested the limits of the circuit, while several drivers complained about traffic over team radio.

Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad was seventh, behind Norris. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and rookie Paul Aron completed the top 10. Aron replaced Colapinto’s teammate Pierre Gasly for the first hour. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was 11th, more than four-tenths of a second behind Norris.

Yuki Tsunoda, replacing Liam Lawson for a second consecutive race weekend at Racing Bulls, finished 12th. Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg was 13th and Haas driver Oliver Bearman 14th.

The session also brought a ruling on the Monaco Grand Prix. McLaren and Red Bull won their appeals against the result after a dispute over multiple incorrect pit-lane speeding penalties. The decision removed the podium awarded to Alpine’s Pierre Gasly after the French team successfully appealed two five-second penalties.