2025 F1 Italian Grand Prix: Friday practice updates LIVE!

In other F1-related news today, a consortium led by former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner will acquire full ownership of the Tech3 MotoGP team.

The deal was confirmed during a Friday press conference at the Catalan MotoGP, where Steiner joined Tech3 boss Herve Poncharal to outline the French team’s future.

“This is a fantastic opportunity,” said Guenther Steiner. “Tech3 is a great team with a huge amount of potential and an impressive legacy.

“Herve's impact on the team and MotoGP itself cannot be overstated, and we’re honoured to take over and keep building on those foundations.

“We’re excited to become part of the MotoGP paddock and maximise the potential of the team and the sport as it continues to grow, helping to bring it to new audiences.”

Former F1 star Daniel Ricciardo has announced his full retirement from motor racing and revealed his next venture.

In an open letter, Ricciardo, who has not been involved in motorsport since losing his AlphaTauri F1 seat after last year's Singapore Grand Prix, confirmed he has fully stepped away from his racing career.

The 36-year-old Australian has joined Ford as global Ford Racing Ambassador, focusing on the company's Raptor brand.

"I wanted to write you all a quick note to coincide with some exciting news," Ricciardo wrote.

"While my racing days are behind me, my love for anything with wheels will always remain high and for that I am proud to be partnering with Ford to become a global Ford Racing ambassador.

"I am going to be working closely with the Ford Racing team and specifically focus on the amazing Raptor brand and lifestyle that Raptor has become for many of Ford's customers."

Russell has just aborted his latest lap and pulled over on the run to the Variante della Roggia. 

"I've lost power," the Briton reports over team radio. 

Hamilton goes third fastest but is over four tenths down on Ferrari teammate Leclerc, with Verstappen's Red Bull splitting the Scuderia pair at this stage. 

Leclerc has found a big improvement on soft tyres to go fastest from Verstappen. 

The Ferrari driver is four-tenths up on the reigning world champion. 

It has also just flashed up that Leclerc is in the clear regarding that red flag infringement, with the stewards deciding no further investigation is required. That is a big relief for the Monegasque. 

Uh oh, Charles Leclerc has been noted for an alleged red flag infringement...

Leclerc overtook another car just as the red flag came out. There have been previous examples of drivers picking up grid drops for such offences in practice. 

Ferrari will be hoping that's not the case given Hamilton already has a grid drop hanging over him this weekend. 

Leclerc had a moment on his first flying lap earlier as he locked up and went straight on at the first chicane. The Monegasque is currently third fastest and 0.219s off the pace halfway through FP1. 

Rookie Paul Aron, driving Franco Colapinto's Alpine, has just had a spin down at the Variante della Roggia after touching the gravel on the way into the corner. 

The Estonian is able to get going and continue without further drama. 

He is currently 19th quickest, ahead of fellow rookie Alex Dunne, who is in Piastri's McLaren. 

Albon's time at the top didn't last long, as Verstappen bettered his effort by three tenths on medium tyres to go fastest, with Leclerc slotting his Ferrari into second, 0.219s down on the Red Bull driver. 

Albon is now third with Williams teammate Carlos Sainz fourth ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso. 

Albon has returned to the top of the times on hard tyres with a lap 0.093s quicker than what Verstappen managed.

Leclerc has slotted into third, ahead of Norris, Russell and Ferrari teammate Hamilton. 

The order is constantly changing during these early stages as the drivers get a feel for things. 

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has just gone fastest with a 1m21.166s on medium tyres. 

The Red Bull driver usurps Alex Albon's Williams at the very top by 0.313s.

Hamilton immediately posts the fastest times to go nearly half a second clear of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. 

Teammate Leclerc quickly demotes Hamilton to P2 as he goes even quicker to make it a Ferrari 1-2.

It's very early on here but that will go down well with the Tifosi.

Hamilton has emerged from the garage and hit the Monza track as a Ferrari driver for the first time. 

This is a very special moment for the seven-time world champion in front of a rapturous Tifosi as Piero Ferrari watches on from the back of the garage. 

F1 has this morning announced a contract extension with the Monaco Grand Prix for the iconic race to remain on the calendar until at least 2035.

It is the second contract extension for Monaco in less than 12 months, further cementing F1's crown jewel as a key fixture in the calendar. 

“The streets of Monaco have been echoing with the sound of Formula 1 since the earliest days of
the sport, so I’m delighted to announce the extension of this fantastic event to 2035," F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said.

"It is an iconic race that is loved by all drivers and fans, with a unique vibe thanks to its location on the world’s most glamorous Principality. I would like to say a special thank you to His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco and everyone involved in securing the long-term future of this historic partnership.”

Oscar Piastri looks to be in control of the title race after claiming his seventh win of the season in Zandvoort, while McLaren teammate and chief rival Lando Norris retired with an oil leak. 

That leaves Norris 34 points behind Piastri and playing catch up across the remaining nine races. Norris has taken the retirement well and is looking forward not backwards, while Piastri insists the events of last weekend will not change his risk approach. 

McLaren are expected to once again be the team to beat at Monza, but which driver will come out on top?

Piastri will sit out of opening practice and Formula 2 frontrunner Alex Dunne steps in to participate in his second FP1 of the season for the reigning world champions. 

It was a race to forget for Ferrari at the Dutch Grand Prix as both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc crashed out as the team suffered a disastrous double DNF in Zandvoort. 

Ferrari have an immediate chance to bounce back and it comes on home soil as they prepare to race in front of their passionate and adoring Tifosi crowd. 

There is huge pressure on Ferrari given their underwhelming start to the season. Leclerc claimed a brilliant victory here 12 months ago but a repeat seems incredibly unlikely.

A battle to make the podium behind the dominant McLarens seems more likely, but Hamilton's task to end his podium drought will be made harder due to the fact he has to serve a five-place grid penalty for a pre-race infringement last Sunday. 

This weekend, the spotlight will firmly be on Ferrari and Hamilton. 

Hello and welcome to Crash.net's live coverage of Friday practice at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. 

We have two hour-long practice sessions coming up from the legendary Monza circuit, with FP1 coming up first at 12.30 BST.