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George Russell Tops Italian GP Practice at Monza

George Russell fired the first real warning shot of the Italian Grand Prix weekend on Friday, topping second practice at Monza and edging Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the process – on Ferrari’s home asphalt, in Ferrari’s colours, in front of Ferrari’s fans.

The margin? Just 0.120s. At Monza, that feels like a blink.

Behind them, championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli slotted into third, keeping Mercedes firmly in the fight at the front as the silver cars and red cars traded times through the afternoon. Lando Norris, the man who has owned the last two grands prix, ended up fourth for McLaren, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri.

The headline, though, comes with an asterisk. Antonelli’s day on the timesheets won’t change the brutal reality of Sunday: an engine change means he is set to start from the back of the grid regardless of how high he qualifies. He may be quick enough for the front row; he will have to carve his way through the field instead.

Max Verstappen, so often the benchmark, spent the session chasing balance in his Red Bull and wound up only ninth. On a track that rewards a planted rear end under braking and a slippery car down the straights, that will sting. Red Bull has work to do overnight.

Saturday will decide the grid. At Monza, that still means something.

The Temple of Speed sharpens its teeth

Monza is stripped-back Formula 1. Long straights. Savage braking zones. Minimal downforce. Every lap is a test of nerve as much as of machinery.

Straightline speed, braking stability and perfectly timed slipstreams can transform a lap here. Get caught in traffic at the wrong moment and a qualifying run is ruined. Catch the tow just right and you can steal rows on the grid.

The circuit itself is a permanent road course on the edge of Monza, in Italy’s motorsport heartland. The weekend runs to the classic format:

  • Friday: free practice 1 and free practice 2
  • Saturday: free practice 3 and qualifying
  • Sunday: the 2026 Italian Grand Prix

Friday’s running has already hinted at a tight fight at the front. Mercedes and Ferrari look evenly matched, McLaren lurks dangerously close, and Verstappen is not yet where he expects to be.

Heat, tyres and the art of survival

If the timesheets suggest a thriller, the weather promises a test of endurance.

Saturday at Monza is expected to be very hot, with sunshine and temperatures pushing into the mid-30s Celsius. That should guarantee a dry final practice and qualifying, but it will punish anyone who misjudges tyre preparation or cooling.

On a track with long full-throttle sections and brutal braking zones, managing brake temperatures and energy deployment will be as important as outright pace. Teams will spend Saturday fine-tuning how hard they can push without cooking tyres and brakes before the lap is over.

Sunday’s race is also forecast to be hot, with the possibility of a passing shower. That single twist could flip strategy on its head if the clouds roll in at the wrong – or right – moment.

When and where to watch Saturday at Monza

All eyes turn to Saturday’s schedule, with final practice the last chance to find balance before the all-or-nothing laps of qualifying.

Local time (Monza, CEST):

  • Saturday, September 5 — Free practice 3: 12:30pm
  • Saturday, September 5 — Qualifying: 4:00pm

For UK viewers (BST):

  • Free practice 3: 11:30am
  • Qualifying: 3:00pm

For US Eastern Time (ET):

  • Free practice 3: 6:30am
  • Qualifying: 10:00am

Broadcast arrangements depend on where you are.

In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports continues as Formula 1’s exclusive broadcaster for every session of the 2026 season, with streaming via Sky Go and NOW, and free-to-air highlights on Channel 4.

In the United States, Apple TV carries every session live under its multi-year deal as the primary broadcast partner, while F1 TV remains the championship’s global subscription streaming service.

Across the weekend, live coverage and updates will track every session of the Italian Grand Prix.

Full Italian GP weekend timetable (local time)

All times are local to Monza (CEST):

  • Friday, September 4 — Free practice 1: 12:30pm
  • Friday, September 4 — Free practice 2: 4:00pm
  • Saturday, September 5 — Free practice 3: 12:30pm
  • Saturday, September 5 — Qualifying: 4:00pm
  • Sunday, September 6 — 2026 Italian Grand Prix: 3:00pm

A packed 2026 grid and a notable stand-in

The 2026 Formula 1 roster brings familiar names and some sharp storylines into Monza.

One of the key changes for this weekend: Isack Hadjar is injured for the Italian GP, so Liam Lawson steps in at Red Bull, while Yuki Tsunoda moves into the Racing Bulls seat. It is a high-profile opportunity for Lawson at the sharp end of the grid and a fresh challenge for Tsunoda as he adapts to different machinery mid-season.

Across the paddock, the field features heavy hitters and rising stars: Hamilton now in Ferrari colours, Norris and Piastri spearheading McLaren, Verstappen leading Red Bull, Antonelli anchoring Mercedes, and Audi, Cadillac Racing, Haas, Williams, Alpine, Aston Martin and Racing Bulls all fighting for relevance and points.

The images from Friday tell their own story: Russell’s Mercedes low on drag and high on confidence; Leclerc and Ferrari soaking up the tifosi’s roar; Norris and Piastri threading their McLarens through the chicanes; Verstappen searching for grip; Lawson thrown straight into the intensity of a Monza weekend.

Russell has set the pace. Ferrari has the crowd. Antonelli has the speed but not the starting position. Verstappen has a problem to solve.

On Saturday at the Temple of Speed, someone will blink. Who?

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