Leclerc quickest as three red flags interrupt Monza FP1

Charles Leclerc set the pace for Ferrari in a truncated first Italian Grand Prix practice at Monza on Friday as wet weather caused difficult on-track conditions, resulting in three red flags.

Rain throughout the morning left the track wet for the start of the session, prompting drivers to head out initially on full wet tyres.

Kimi Raikkonen was the first driver to spark a red flag, spinning off the track at Parabolica, with a mistake from Sergio Perez exiting the Ascari Chicane causing a second stoppage just two minutes after the session had resumed. Both drivers spun into the wall, ending their sessions early.

The third and final red flag came midway through the session when Pierre Gasly spun his Toro Rosso car at the first chicane, stopping momentarily on the racing line. Despite the red flag, the Frenchman was able to get the car going again, ensuring a quick restart to proceedings.

The track dried out enough for drivers to switch to Intermediates before ultimately getting in some slick-tyre running in the final few minutes of the session, with Leclerc putting in a best lap of 1m27.905s on the Medium compound.

Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris followed in second and third for McLaren, with five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton slotting into fourth for Mercedes.

Alexander Albon took fifth for Red Bull, two places clear of teammate Max Verstappen as Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat split the duo. Sebastian Vettel finished eighth for Ferrari ahead of Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas, while Gasly rounded out the top 10.

Free Practice 2 begins at Monza at 3pm local time (2pm BST) on Friday.