2018 Italian GP first practice report: Kimi P2, Sebastian P17

Sergio Perez set the fastest time on a drying track during the first practice session of the Italian Grand Prix, after the GP3 practice session was cancelled as the rain fell along with thunder and authorities even threatened to delay F1 session, although the weather and brooms in the pit-lane both worked in their favour to ensure a 10am start. That’s the first time a team other than Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull have topped a practice session this season.

However, as conditions got drier in the last part of the session, Scuderia Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was able to get out on intermediate tyres and set a time a second faster than Verstappen’s while team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, both Toro Rossos and Esteban Ocon did the same, only for Perez to find that extra bit of time in the closing seconds.

Sebastian Vettel’s running in the opening session was limited to just four laps due to technical problems. Seb only completes four laps amid car problems which have resulted in the Friday gearbox being changed out of the German’s Ferrari – but it was a spare unit, so no grid penalties for the German driver.

Italian Grand Prix – Here are the results from the first practice session ahead of round 14 of the 2018 Formula 1 season from Monza.

FP1 Results – 2018 Italian Grand Prix

Sergio Perez Force India 1:34.000
Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari +0.550
Esteban Ocon Force India +0.593
Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso +1.024
Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing +1.207
Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso +1.438
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +1.665
Carlos Sainz Renault +1.995
Nico Hulkenberg Renault +2.107
Valtteri Bottas Mercedes +2.238
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +2.546
Charles Leclerc Sauber +2.648
Kevin Magnussen Haas +3.066
Fernando Alonso McLaren +3.426
Romain Grosjean Haas +3.683
Marcus Ericsson Sauber +3.790
Sebastian Vettel Ferrari +3.867
Sergey Sirotkin Williams +3.929
Lance Stroll Williams +4.253
Lando Norris McLaren +4.282