No messing around with your Star Wars references after the sighting of George Lucas at Monza.

Quick you are.

We've had 15 drivers out for a brief test of the conditions with 25 minutes gone, both Ferraris among those waiting a bit longer for their first foray on to the circuit.

There's an issue for Nico Rosberg, who reports a "strange oscillations in the power of the engine" over team radio.

Image source, Formula 1

Carlos Sainz misjudges a chicane entrance and is forced to carry on down the escape road and weave his way between the polystyrene blocks. Doesn't do a particularly great job of that though...

Lewis Hamilton, competing in his 50th grand prix weekend as a Mercedes driver, is out with the green-walled tyres on, with Nico Rosberg the only other driver also out on the circuit in a very tentative first 20 minutes for the drivers at Monza.

George Lucas is in the paddock today. Cue the Star Wars Formula 1-related jokes. Feel the Force India, or something like that...

It is the Toro Rosso pair who put a couple of early times on the board, although nothing meaningful - a 1:34.304 for Max Verstappen and a 1:36.405 for Carlos Sainz.

"Not quite dry enough for slicks," reports Max Verstappen over team radio after his venture out on track.

A dry line is beginning to form, though, so probably not too long before the switch is made.

Fernando Alonso was not far behind Jenson Button in heading out on to the circuit, but both are back in after their exploratory laps.

Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter

"No Ferraris any time soon, neither Sebastian Vettel or Kimi Raikkonen in the garage. They'll let others dry out the circuit and then head out, much to the delight of the crowd."

Jenson Button, who only managed three laps in second practice because of water leak issue with his McLaren, is the first out on the circuit as one hour of practice gets under way. He has inters bolted on.

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

"I am outside the Ferrari garage and it all quiet at the moment but I do have a bit of news for you. Sebastian Vettel has become a father again, he has had a little girl in the last few days. Funny isn't it that the two guys who had tyre blow-outs in Belgium, both became fathers in the same week."

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

“Behind the Mercedes, the field appears to be the mix of Ferrari and Mercedes customer teams that was seen two weeks ago in Spa, with Force India and Lotus in the mix with Williams. 

"Red Bull were nowhere, and just how bad their situation is was summed up by Daniel Ricciardo, when he talked about beating Sauber (!). Little wonder, then. that the team plan to perform double engine changes on the cars of both Ricciardo and team-mate Daniil Kvyat. 

"They will join the McLarens - also penalised for engine changes - at the back of the grid, the order still to be decided, by qualifying and the impact of their various penalties.”

Grid penalties might just save Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso from being lumbered right at the back in tomorrow's race, with a couple of other drivers taking hits for engine changes.

With one eye on the next race in Singapore, Red Bull have made changes in their Renault-powered RB11 that will see Daniel Ricciardo take a 25-place grid penalty on Sunday and Daniil Kvyat a 10-place drop from wherever he qualifies.

Carlos Sainz will lose 10 grid places after the installation of a fresh Renault engine in his Toro Rosso.

Postpublished at 09:52

09:52

After a rainy start to the day, things are drying up in Monza as blue skies appear above the mountains in the distance, while Nico Rosberg has his usual kickabout with a football before heading off to prepare for practice.