F1 – Verstappen quickest in opening practice as Antonelli crashes on F1 weekend debut 

F1 Drivers’ Championship leader Max Verstappen went quickest in the opening practice session for this weekend’s 2024 FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix as Mercedes’ junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed on his grand prix weekend debut. 

Antonelli, who is tipped to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton in 2025, was out on track in George Russell’s Mercedes almost as soon as the green lights signalled the start of the first hour of practice in Monza. The Italian driver quickly found a rhythm on Soft tyres and he posted a lap of 1:23.955 to take top spot ahead of Hamilton, though the rookie was soon outpaced by both Hamilton and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Antonelli went for another attempt but lost the rear of his W15 through the Parabolica and spun sideways into the barrier. He was quickly out of the damaged Mercedes but with barrier repairs required the session was red-flagged for 13 minutes. When the session resumed Verstappen moved to the top of the order before being eclipsed by Williams’ Alex Albon and Sauber’s. Hamilton then moved ahead of them all with a Soft-tyre lap of 1:22.214 before Bottas went quicker again and then Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc moved to the top of the order with a lap of 1:21.904 on used Softs. Dutch Grand Prix Norris slotted in just 0.013s behind the Monegasque driver by Verstappen edged ahead of both with a lap of 1:21.676 set on new Softs that left him 0.228s clear of Leclerc. 

Behind the top three Carlos Sainz took fourth place in the other Ferrari, a little over two tenths off his team-mate. Bottas held onto a surprise fifth place, 0.451 off Verstappen, while Oscar Piastri was sixth in the second McLaren. Hamilton ended the session in seventh with Albon in P8. Sergio Perez took ninth place, 0.6s off his table-topping team-mate and the top 10 order was rounded out by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

Further back, Franco Colapinto, who is replacing Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the season, was 17th fastest on the same time, 1:22.880, as Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. 

2024 FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix – Free Practice 1 
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:21.676 18 255.335
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:21.904 0.228 23 254.624
3 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:21.917 0.241 25 254.584
4 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:22.126 0.450 23 253.936
5 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 1:22.127 0.451 21 253.933
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:22.199 0.523 23 253.711
7 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:22.214 0.538 23 253.664
8 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:22.220 0.544 24 253.646
9 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:22.311 0.635 20 253.365
10 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:22.315 0.639 18 253.353
11 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1:22.572 0.896 21 252.565
12 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 1:22.605 0.929 21 252.46
13 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 1:22.714 1.038 23 252.131
14 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:22.763 1.087 21 251.982
15 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 1:22.854 1.178 21 251.705
16 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:22.864 1.188 21 251.675
17 Franco Colapinto Williams/Mercedes 1:22.880 1.204 23 251.626
18 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1:22.880 1.204 20 251.626
19 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 1:23.157 1.481 23 250.788
20 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:23.955 2.279 5 248.404