Summary

  • Max Verstappen takes pole for Italian Grand Prix

  • Lando Norris second with Oscar Piastri third

  • Leclerc fourth and Hamilton fifth but Briton has five-place grid penalty

  • Pierre Gasly extends Alpine contract

  • Select audio icon for Sports Extra 2 commentary (UK only)

  • Get involved: #bbcf1, f1@bbc.co.uk, WhatsApp on 03301231826

Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna and Jay Freeman

  1. A flurry of lap times going in with a mixture of different tyres being used.

    Yuki Tsunoda is the man to beat with the 1:20.775 he set using the hard tyre.

    Lewis Hamilton is the second fastest man on track, 0.178 seconds behind him on the medium with Isack Hadjar third on softs.

  2. Carlos Sainz goes off at turn one and tells his engineer he suspects there's a tailwind there.

    And shortly after Ollie Bearman has trouble there, too. That's four drivers who've come a cropper before their lap has even got going.

  3. Lewis Hamilton is a five-time winner at Monza and will be hoping to add to that tally in his first race with Ferrari.

    He starts a lap but backs off having gone in late to turn one. Shortly afterwards, championship leader Oscar Piastri locks up into the same corner.

  4. 'Hamilton hoping for a strong weekend'

    Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Lewis Hamilton will be really hoping for a strong weekend and I think he needs it. He's got a huge support here and Ferrari are looking good at the moment.

  5. 1:23.965 is Pierre Gasly's time, the first of the session.

    His team-mate Franco Colapinto goes over a second faster soon after while Yuki Tsunoda crosses the line with a 1:21.876 moments later.

    A reminder that we breached the 1:20 barrier yesterday in a bunched-up second qualifying session.

  6. It's a fine day at Monza today. 26C with blue skies and sunshine.

    Pierre Gasly, fresh from signing a contract extension with Alpine, embarks on his first lap of the day.

  7. 'Times are going to be close'

    Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The times are going to be so close over the course of this weekend. It was less than one-tenth of a second that separated the top three on Friday.

  8. The Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg is the first car out for FP3. He's on the medium tyre to begin with.

    The two Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso are not far behind and are joined by Isack Hadjar in opting for hards to get the session going.

    Nico HulkenbergGetty Images

  9. Go! Go! Go!

    Third and final practice has gone green.

    Ferrari ended FP1 on top. But Lando Norris was king for FP2.

    As the drivers prepare for qualifying, who can show they're looking good for pole position?

  10. Gasly extends Alpine stay until 2028

    Pierre GaslyGetty Images

    Pierre Gasly has put pen to paper on a contract extension at Alpine.

    The 29-year-old, who joined the French team two years ago and has scored two podiums, has signed a deal to the end of the 2028 season.

    "I'm thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine," said Gasly."As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, makes me feel very proud.

    "Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future."

    Gasly joined Alpine from Red Bull's second team, then called AlphaTauri, for who he won the Italian Grand Prix in 2020.

  11. Norris says Monza field 'bit close for my liking'

    Lando Norris looks onGetty Images

    Lando Norris said the Formula 1 field was "a bit close for my liking" after setting the pace in Friday practice at the Italian Grand Prix.

    The Briton said: "I just need to make the gap a bit bigger to make things a bit more comfortable."

    Norris and Piastri were among several drivers to have moments as they tested the limits at the high-speed and historic Monza circuit.

    Norris had a big slide at the second chicane, known as Roggia, and Piastri had his own moment, running a little wide and kicking up the gravel at the second Lesmo.

    The biggest incident involved Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who brought out a red flag when he had a spin at the second Lesmo.

  12. Five things to look out for at Italian Grand Prix

    Five things to look out for at Italian Grand Prix

    BBC Sport's Harry Benjamin and commentator Alice Powell pick their five things to look out for before Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.

  13. Dunne pleased with 'smooth' Monza F1 outing

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI

    Alex Dunne looks onGetty Images

    Ireland's Alex Dunne says he is "pretty happy" with his second outing on a Formula 1 weekend for McLaren at the Italian Grand Prix.

    Dunne was replacing championship leader Oscar Piastri for first practice at Monza and ended the session in 16th place

    While not as spectacular as his F1 debut in Austria in June, when he finished fourth in practice and was just 0.069 seconds off Piastri, it was a solid showing from the 19-year-old Irishman.

    He ended the hour-long practice session half a second slower than Lando Norris, who was sixth overall as Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest time at Ferrari's home race.

    "I really enjoyed it once again and it's a pleasure to be working with all the guys," Dunne told McLaren.

    "Being alongside Lando for FP1 was really cool."

  14. Two drivers had a nervy hour or so after practice on Friday.

    No further action was taken on Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto for overtaking under yellow flags.

    Meanwhile McLaren's Oscar Piastri was reprimanded for an early release in FP2.

  15. Follow the action across the BBC

    BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Here's what's coming up today and how you can follow it across the BBC:

    Third practice: 11:30-12:30 (BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

    Qualifying: 15:00-16:00 (BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

  16. Norris fastest from Leclerc in Monza practice

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent at Monza

    Lando Norris topped Friday practice at the Italian Grand Prix at the start of a weekend in which he needs to make inroads into team-mate Oscar Piastri's championship lead.

    Norris dropped to 34 points behind the Australian with nine races remaining following a retirement in last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, the first race after Formula 1's summer break.

    Norris was 0.083 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in second place, ahead of Williams' Carlos Sainz, Piastri, the second Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

    Hamilton has a five-place grid penalty for the grand prix after an infringement on the reconnaissance laps before the Dutch event.

    Piastri missed the first practice session as McLaren protege Alex Dunne was driving his car, and set his fastest time on his second lap on the soft tyres after a problem on his first attempt.

  17. Welcome back to Monza

    Lando Norris in his McLaren during Friday practiceGetty Images

    Morning all.

    Welcome back to our live text coverage of the Italian Grand Prix race weekend and it's third practice next up on the schedule in about 15 minutes' time.

    Ferrari began the weekend with a one-two finish as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc topped the standings in FP1, with Lando Norris leading the line in a bunched-up second practice.

    But can Norris carry on as he chases down his team-mate Oscar Piastri's lead at the top of the Championship?

    Final practice goes green at 11:30 BST.

    Qualifying gets under way at 15:00 BST.

    Commentary is available to listen to via the audio icon at the top of this page.