Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc are hustling each other hard. The Australian is back in third place but the Ferrari thinks he can get back through on the inside of the McLaren. Denied. Piastri keeps that final pdium place, for now.

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton is trying to make moves up the field but for now he's behind the Sauber of rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto. The seven-time world champion is in eighth, the Brazilian is in sixth.

"He needs to give that back, he went to defend and went long"

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

We've just had a real big proof of how fast that Ferrari is in a straight-line. Even with DRS for Oscar Piastri and no DRS for Charles Leclerc, Piastri was still unable to get past him.

Rachel: Max doing Max things. Glad he didn’t get away with it.

The lead has changed hands again! Max Verstappen spots his chance to pass the McLaren of Lando Norris at the beginning of the lap and the four-time world champion wastes no time getting the move done.

Verstappen is in front, Norris is in second and Charles Leclerc stays in fourth - much to the annoyance of championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Image source, Getty Images

Lando Norris is about eight tenths ahead of polesitter Max Verstappen as we hit lap three at Monza. Charles Leclerc is sitting pretty in the final podium place, with Oscar Piastri in fourth. The Mercedes of Kimi Antoneli has dropped four places and is now running in 10th place, while Lewis Hamilton has lifted himself up to eighth.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Bold stuff from Oscar Piastri, that is exactly what he needed to do.

Lando Norris gets his wish for Max Verstappen to give him the place back after their tussle at the start of this Italian Grand Prix. That means the McLaren leads from the Red Bull, but behind the from two, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc are having a right old battle.

Ferrari's Leclerc has got the better of the Australian once again to take third but Piastri is on the radio to say Lelcerc is all over the place under braking.

"Yeah, what the... What's this idiot doing? Come on. He's put me in the grass and then he's just cut the corner."

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Max Verstappen is going to have two charging McLarens from behind.

Charles Leclerc is starting from fourth place and he got a huge round of applause as he left his grid spot, and for Lewis Hamilton who is down in 10th place.

The Italian Grand Prix is under way - with just 17 cars on the grid!

Lando Norris goes onto the grass as he tries to hustle Max Verstappen at the race start. Charles Leclerc has moved up to fourth place as the Ferrari man overtakes the McLaren of Oscar Piastri.

But not for long! Piastri goes round the outside of Leclerc and takes back third place. Norris tells his pit wall he was pushed onto the green stuff by Verstappen.

Image source, Getty Images

Chef Andy: Although it pains me to say it, as I'm not a great fan of his, give him a milk float (with the now seemingly obligatory 'new floor') and Verstappen would still qualify in the first four. Lewis Hamilton cannot do this. Regrettably Verstappen will probably win.

Max Verstappen will lead us off the line at lights out. Will he be able to keep the two McLarens at bay through the first chicane? Championship leader Oscar Piastri is starting in third place and is 34 points clear in the title race from team-mate Lando Norris.

Nico Hulkenberg is in trouble. The Sauber driver is being told to box already. "Ah man, are you serious?" says the German.

Andrew: Watch for Max shutting the door on Lando off the start line, leaving the first chicane wide-open for Piastri to jump them both.

Nulla: I’m keen to see how Hadjar performs today.

Charles: If Verstappen and Norris cover each other in the first corner Piastri will be leading by the time they reach the Lesmos

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Thanks Jay! It's a great day to go racing at historic Monza.

The top 13 drivers are all starting on the medium tyre, plus Franco Colapinto. Liam Lawson at the back of the grid, meanwhile, has opted for the softs first. The rest are hard runners.

In case you're just joining us today, Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar and Alpine's Pierre Gasly are both starting from the pit lane.

Over at Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will be investigated after the race for alleged practice-start infringements upon leaving the pit lane.

Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecaster

Air temperature is 26.6C and the track 45.9C.

Light wind from the south-south-east. Beautiful conditions this afternoon at Monza; dry and settled with no risk of rain.

Enjoy the race!

Image source, Getty Images

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who will be starting in 10th, said: "This is such an incredible experience for me with it being my first race in Monza with Ferrari. I just want to capture it because there will only ever be a first."

On the race: "With this crowd I think anything is possible, I've never really seen so much support for one team.

"In England I get this sort of response and support which is incredible, but the passion that the tifosi have for Ferrari is next to nothing.

"It's going to be tough from where we are and everyone is very close, but I'm so driven to try and move forward and get further up there, I want to be right in the mix."

Image source, Getty Images

Pole sitter Max Verstappen speaking to Sky Sports: "I know that McLaren step it up in the race compared to qualifying so that will be a tough battle.

"We just need to focus on ourselves, try and do the best we can, keep the tyres alive and we will see where we end up.

"We always want to win, that's always the target."

Image source, Getty Images

Haas' Oliver Bearman starts in P11 for the Italian Grand Prix, speaking to Sky Sports: "Qualifying went well, we just missed out on Q3 but it's very close out there. We don't have great top speed so we will see what we can do today."