Overview
- On Friday Ferrari ran its second permitted power‑unit upgrade and a refined low‑drag aero package and topped opening practice with Charles Leclerc first and Lewis Hamilton second.
- Mercedes fought back in the afternoon with George Russell fastest in FP2, leaving the weekend tightly matched between Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
- Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid after taking a full power‑unit change which shifts his weekend program toward long‑run race preparation.
- McLaren introduced its rotating low‑drag 'H‑Wing' and Oscar Piastri’s simulations and comments highlighted Monza’s limited opportunities to harvest electrical energy, which can lower top speeds on the main straight.
- Practice running was affected by mandated rookie/substitute seats, a red flag when Colton Herta stopped with a hydraulic issue, and an FIA heat hazard that forces cooling vest or ballast choices and alters team programmes.