Welcome to Total-Motorsport.com’s 2024 Italian GP Free Practice 3 live blog as the Formula 1 circus arrives at Monza, one of the most iconic circuits on the calendar this weekend.
Known as the “Temple of Speed,” Monza‘s layout is defined by its long straights and challenging chicanes, making it the fastest track in F1. With its mix of flat-out sections and technical corners, Monza offers a unique challenge that often delivers thrilling races and unexpected results.
First opened in 1922, Monza has hosted the Italian GP almost every year since the inception of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1950, cementing its place as a cornerstone of the sport. The Italian GP is not just another race; it is a celebration of speed, history, and the passionate Tifosi
As the 2024 Italian GP continues with the final practice session, Max Verstappen topped the timesheet in FP1 but had a torrid FP2 in which Lewis Hamilton was fastest for Mercedes, just ahead of Lando Norris. Stay tuned to our Italian GP Free Practice 3 live blog for minute-by-minute coverage of all the action, including lap times, incidents, and key developments as they happen.
2024 Italian GP FP3 LIVE – Latest News and Updates
Follow along for all the news and latest updates from Monza as Free Practice 3 at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix gets underway.
Post-chequered flag: Kevin Magnussen stops his Haas on track
Kevin Magnussen, who crashed out of FP2 on Friday, is urgently told to stop his car on track at Monza after the session ends in what seems to be a major power failure for the Haas team.
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What is the problem and will they fix it before Saturday afternoon’s qualifying?
Chequered flag: Red Bull lost at sea as Mercedes top FP3
Red Bull could be set for a damaging Saturday afternoon to their F1 title hopes as neither Sergio Perez or Max Verstappen find themselves comfortable in a car that seems to continue struggling with balance issues.
Verstappen complained that the car couldn’t turn in low or medium corners as he found himself dipping into the gravel and wringing the neck of his RB20 just to go sixth fastest overall and a few tenths behind the benchmark, whilst Perez was down in 18th.
It was an excellent day for Mercedes, who locked out the front row in FP3 and showed very strong one-lap pace but eyes might turn to Charles Leclerc in Monza as the Ferrari star looked good over one-lap but also showed great tyre management to only .109 off at the end of the session.
McLaren are close, but don’t seem to be quite comfortable whilst Williams emerged as one of the surprises by jumping into eighth and ninth with Alex Albon ahead of Franco Colapinto on a weekend they didn’t expect to have much pace.
Five minutes to go: Perez makes a mistake
The Red Bull car looks like a diva at the moment as Sergio Perez is forced over the escape road at Turn 4 when his car slides on entry and takes away any confidence he had.
The Mexican is a long way off the pace, over a second, as he finds himself down in 16th place with his future at the team under serious pressure.
Seven minutes to go: Piastri aborts his lap
Oscar Piastri dips his wheel into the gravel again at the exit of Turn 4 around Monza before he goes on to abort his lap by coming into the pits, are McLaren struggling for pace?
They’re currently in fourth and fifth but are only 0.135 and 0.145 behind Lewis Hamilton’s benchmark time.
10 minutes to go: Thrilling battle for quali at this rate
Lewis Hamilton’s 1:20.117 now leads all 19 drivers in FP3 as he tops the times by 0.093 from George Russell, who complains the balance on his Mercedes feels “rubbish” and “a long way off” what he wants.
Then comes Leclerc, Piastri, Norris and Verstappen, with the world champion complaining that his car doesn’t turn in to corners at either medium or low speed as he finds himself 0.251 off Hamilton.
13 minutes to go: Oscar Piastri might be in trouble
Charles Leclerc initially upsets Oscar Piastri in Turn 1 by appearing to impede him, although it didn’t actually look to be too bad.
The Australian then repays the favour by seeming to weave over at the exit of the second Lesmo corner and forces the Ferrari onto the grass, but he might have been trying to avoid a fast-approaching Daniel Ricciardo instead.
15 minutes to go: Leclerc looking very good
Charles Leclerc has put a lot of mileage on those soft tyres but they’re holding up very well as his 1:20.226 leads the rest of the grid.
Lando Norris on a set of new softs can only go to 0.036 although Sky Sports F1’s Nico Rosberg speculates that McLaren are running a lower engine mode to try to hold something back for qualifying.
18 minutes to go: Mercedes hot seat drama
Mercedes appear to have the same issue of their seats overheating and bothering both drivers once again at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
It was a problem that bothered George Russell and Lewis Hamilton through FP2 and also FP1 in the latter’s case.
22 minutes to go: Ferrari 1-2 in Monza
Ferrari are back on top at their home circuit as Carlos Sainz leads Charles Leclerc by 0.102 with a 1:20.463 ahead of Alex Albon.
Then comes Russell ahead of Hamilton, Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Hulkenberg and Perez in the Top 10.
24 minutes to go: Mercedes flagged for impeding
Max Verstappen complains about Lewis Hamilton going slowly on the racing line near the Lesmo corners.
Nothing serious will come of it since it’s only a practice session.
27 minutes to go: Verstappen has a moment
Max Verstappen seems a little unsure of his Red Bull into the second Lesmo corner before he commits and then has to catch a snap of oversteer on the exit, kicking up some gravel and dust into the air.
The defending world champion continues to battle balance issues on that Red Bull car as he finds himself down in eighth place and 0.354 off, although he’s yet to use a set of the soft tyres.
Oscar Piastri had done the same moments before in his McLaren, as he sits in seventh but close to the pace of his teammate.
30 minutes to go: Alex Albon turns the wick up
Alex Albon goes fastest overall in the Williams by a very slender 0.018 ahead of Charles Leclerc, as James Vowles’ team have surely turned the engine up and gone for it at a track they don’t feel they will be good at.
Franco Colapinto is in 14th as he continues to get up to speed on his Formula 1 debut after replacing Logan Sargeant.
32 minutes to go: Bad news for Aston Martin?
There are countless rumours linking Adrian Newey to Aston Martin from 2025 and they might desperately need him as for all of Fernando Alonso’s talent, he finds himself no higher than 11th.
Lance Stroll is even further back in 18th. It’s not looking good for the green British team in Italy, who are 0.718 and 1.433 seconds back.
35 minutes to go: All drivers have a time
Alex Albon goes eighth fastest ahead of Sergio Perez as all drivers now finally have a time on the board.
The Williams is 0.546 behind Charles Leclerc on the soft compound tyre.
38 minutes to go: Leclerc smashes the times
There’s some big cheers from the Tifosi in Monza as Charles Leclerc goes faster than George Russell by 0.092 with a 1:20.614.
Ferrari are feeling good in Monza, can they claim their first Grand Prix win here since the 2019 F1 season?
40 minutes to go: Astonishingly fine margins at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Less than a tenth of a second separates George Russell’s 1:20.706 from Lando Norris in fourth, with Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen within 0.250 of the Mercedes star.
It could be interesting in a few hours’ time when qualifying gets underway as the order is currently Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Norris, Piastri, Verstappen and Leclerc, who is setting a push lap now.
43 minutes to go: Norris lays down the law
Lando Norris jumps to the top of the timing boards by a tenth of a second now ahead of his teammate as McLaren lead a 1-2 in Monza.
Verstappen is in third as the title battle continues hotting up.
46 minutes to go: Big changes at the top!
Max Verstappen was leading but now several cars have began to throw down the challenge as Oscar Piastri goes ahead of him in the McLaren with a 1:20.887 on the softs whilst George Russell slots into third, 0.282 off.
Then comes Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez, Kevin Magnussen, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc in the Top 10, although Leclerc hasn’t set a competitive time.
52 minutes to go: Verstappen on top
Max Verstappen leads the timing boards eight minutes into FP3 with a 1:21.560 on the medium tyres to beat his teammate, Sergio Perez, by 0.102 as a part of his car is spotted flying off on the main straight.
Kevin Magnussen’s Haas is in third.
55 minutes to go: Only six cars on track
It’s a slow start to the FP3 session with just the six cars on the track as Kevin Magnussen leads Valtteri Bottas at the top of the timing boards.
Both Red Bulls are on track.
GREEN FLAG: FP3 gets underway
The lights are off at the end of the pit-lane and the drivers can head to the circuit for this crucial third practice session.
this is the final chance they have to get their set-up data before qualifying later today.
Who do you think will land the other spots on the grid?
Daniel Ricciardo, Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas all see their F1 seats under threat so who do you think will complete the grid for F1 2025?
Will we see any new faces from next season?
How will the world champions respond to finishing outside of the Top 10 in FP2?
Max Verstappen holds a 70-point championship lead with nine races to go in a crucial set of races in order to stay ahead of Lando Norris.
But Red Bull finished 13th and 14th in FP2! Disaster! Will they manage to respond in FP3 in 20 minutes?
ICYMI: Your FP2 results
There could be eight cars in the fight for pole position and the Grand Prix win according to Lando Norris but how did they shape up after Free Practice 2 on Friday?
Just 0.154 split the Top Five, but who placed where?
Antonelli joins Mercedes
Earlier this morning, Mercedes announced that Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli will take Lewis Hamilton’s seat for the 2025 F1 season.
Pirelli tyre compounds for 2024 Italian GP
Where to watch F1 2024 Italian GP?
For F1 fans in the UK, Sky Sports F1 is the go to place for all the Formula 1 action with coverage of every Italian GP session live, including all three practice sessions, Qualifying and the race on Sunday.
US F1 fans can catch all the action from Monza across ESPN, with the race live on ESPN on Sunday morning ET.
