2020 Italian Grand Prix: FP1 Highlights

First practice at the Italian Grand Prix started with a bit of a bang as Max Verstappen's Red Bull went off at the Ascari chicane. The Dutchman lost the rear of his RB16 with the momentum sending him spinning into the gravel, coming to a rest against the wall and damaging his front wing. Alex Albon also flirted with the margins going wide at Turn 5 and scattering stones in his wake. But the Thai driver was good enough for a third fastest lap of the session, just over a tenth up on his teammate. The FIA's new directive on engine modes comes into force from Saturday, meaning teams will be forced to use a single power unit setting from the start of qualifying to the end of Sunday's race, with Mercedes rivals optimistic that it could reduce their advantage. Party mode or not, Valtteri Bottas still impressed with a Silver Arrows. Despite locking up at the Retafilio chicane and taking a shortcut across the kerbs, the Flying Finn was quick enough for the fastest time, 1 minute 20.703, more than two tenths ahead of teammate and current championship leader Lewis Hamilton in second. Alfa Tauri continue to impress, although even they might not have been expecting to look quite so competitive. With Fiat in fourth and Gasly, despite her spin, in sixth, the Italian team's home race weekend could barely have started any better. Having failed to deliver fully on their promise at Spa, Racing Point will be hoping for a better weekend in Italy. Sergio Perez with a seventh best time in FP1, with teammate Lance Stroll around four tenths back in P13. Renault, impressed last time out and on this lowest of low downforce tracks, are expecting to shine once again. Yet even with a new power unit, Daniel Ricciardo could only muster the ninth fastest lap, with Esteban Ocon in P12. That said, the team has traditionally only started to show its hand in FP2 and may yet have more to put on the table. What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, the grandstands at Monza were filled with delirious Tifosi cheering a Ferrari home to victory in the Italian Grand Prix. Sadly, the prancing horses' struggles this season look set to continue at their home race, with both last year's winner Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel accepting there'll be no Milanese miracle this weekend. Leclerc failed to trouble the top ten, finishing the session 11th, but Sebastian Vettel endured a torrid morning, finishing P19 and the meat in a Williams sandwich. One of the biggest stories to emerge this week was the announcement that Sir Frank and Claire Williams will move aside from their roles with the team that bears their name after Sunday's race. It's truly the end of an era, but there's hope that, with fresh financing and new personnel, the family's magnificent legacy will continue in Formula One for many years to come. Roy Nisseny once again sat in for George Russell in the FW43, and both he and Nicholas Latifi managed to upset another Williams alumni. So Bottas leads Hamilton, as Albon and Kvyat sit just behind. With Verstappen and Gasly next up, all four Honda-powered cars place in the top six. Perez finished 7th in the racing point, ahead of Norris 8th, Ricciardo 9th, and Sainz making it two McLarens in the top ten. Leclerc sits 11th, with Ocon 12th, Stroll 13th, and the two Haas drivers marking P14 and 15. It's 16th and 17th for the Alfa Romeos, with Nisseny the faster of the Williams, Vettel P19, and the 20 rounded out by Nicholas Latifi.