Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2 to set the fastest time in first free practice at Formula 1's Italian Grand Prix. Leclerc's time of 1m23.008s, set on medium tyres, was quick enough to pip team-mate Lewis Hamilton on a hot summer afternoon at the historic Monza circuit. Leclerc set his time halfway through the first of three practice sessions, boosting expectations from the partisan home crowd in Italy.

Sporting a throwback livery paying tribute to Michael Schumacher's first season with Ferrari in 1996, Ferrari came to its home track with its latest suite of upgrades. Those updates include a refined low-drag rear wing and the Scuderia's second permitted engine upgrade that aims to help slash its power unit deficit to Mercedes. The session resumed with 34 minutes on the clock, with Mercedes' George Russell dipping below Norris' time before Leclerc took charge with a 1m23.008s on medium rubber.

Hamilton followed Leclerc through in second, shipping 0.173s to his team-mate on the same medium compound, as Russell reclaimed third with a 1m23.312s lap on soft tyres, three tenths down on the leading Ferrari.