There's not a set tyre choice right now on track. It's a mix between hard and medium so far.

But Kimi Antonelli has joined Liam Lawson in donning a set of softs.

The times are getting faster by the minute.

Lando Norris initially sets a 1:24.194 on the medium tyre but George Russell betters him by almost four tenths with a 1:23.802.

We're into the 1:23s now. The conditions are perfect, unlike at Zandvoort this time two weeks ago.

Lewis Hamilton is the fastest man on track now.

He hauls his Ferrari into a 1:24.291 and with a set of hards on, no less.

The Tifosi love that.

Image source, Getty Images

The times are tumbling down as you might expect at this point in the session.

Liam Lawson, who thus far is the only car to set a lap on the soft tyre, sets a 1:24.383 and goes top of the tree.

A reminder that he's back in the Red Bull with Isack Hadjar still out with a wrist injury.

No sooner does Charles Leclerc go fastest does George Russell move into top spot.

His 1:25.259 is the pick of the bunch so far.

Huge cheers as the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc goes out on track.

He puts down a 1:26.873 and goes fastest in the early stages of this session.

Rebecca Clancy
F1 journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I don't think this track will quite favour the McLaren but it could be a four-way fight for the victory. I think it's going to be a very, very tight weekend.

We've got four rookies taking part in FP1 today.

Ayumu Iwasa has stepped into Max Verstappen's Red Bull, Luke Browning has replaced Alex Albon at Williams and Paul Aron is in for Pierre Gasly at Alpine.

Meanwhile, Colton Herta - who it feels weird to call a rookie given he's been such a stalwart in IndyCar - is in for Sergio Perez at Cadillac.

Right then, let's get going.

We've gone green and we are under way at Monza.

Rebecca Clancy
F1 journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I adore Monza. I'm here for the romance. The tifosi are incredible, the history here, the atmosphere. It's gearing itself up for a fantastic weekend.

BBC Sounds

Think you've got to rely on my ramblings on this page to keep track of what's going on? Think again.

To listen to commentary of first practice, you can either click the 'listen live' tab at the top of the page, head over to the BBC Sounds app and search for Sports Extra if you're heading out or you can ask your smart speaker to "play Sports Extra".

BBC Weather

Sunny.

That's it, that's my answer.

Whereas the Zandvoort's weather was a moveable feast with patchy spells of rain and gloomy skies, the weather in Monza looks a darn sight better.

Highs of 33C today, too. Oof.

Image source, Getty Images

Reigning world champion Lando Norris committed his future to McLaren as he signed a new contract until 2030 last week.

It was an arrangement that was quite simple for Norris, who said the prospect of signing his new contract was "quite an easy yes for me".

Meanwhile at Alpine, Franco Colapinto signed a new contract which will keep him with the team next season.

The move came midway through a campaign in which the 23-year-old Argentine secured a career-best sixth-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist at Monza

Image source, BBC Sport

Ciao from beautiful Monza.

Remember when we had the heatwaves in the UK this summer? This weekend's Italian Grand Prix is very much still hitting those sizzling temperatures. Yesterday's media day was a sweaty affair in the paddock as temperatures were about 33C. There's not a drop of rain to be seen and only a light breeze to cool things down. Saturday's fight for pole position is when conditions reach a peak of 35C.

One of the main attractions at Monza, apart from Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, is championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian is 59 points clear of both seven-time title winner Hamilton and Mercedes team-mate George Russell at the top of the standings and is aiming to become the first Italian to be crowned F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

His home race is set be a challenge, however, as a grid penalty for taking on a new power unit will see him start from the back of the field on Sunday. On Thursday, Antonelli said he was relaxed about his starting position. "I think also that's why I'm going to be able to enjoy more the driving and the weekend itself," he added.

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull will be without Isack Hadjar for a second consecutive race, with the Frenchman set to miss this weekend's Italian Grand Prix as he continues to recover from a wrist injury he sustained during the summer.

Hadjar, 21, missed last month's Dutch Grand Prix and will once again be replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson in Monza.

Lawson, who normally races for Red Bull's second team, Racing Bulls, will compete alongside Max Verstappen this weekend - after finishing seventh last time.

Lawson's spot at Racing Bulls will once again be filled by reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda.

On Wednesday, Red Bull said Hadjar - who broke his wrist while boxing - was making "encouraging progress" and that the team would not be taking any "unnecessary risks" with his return to competition.

Red Bull are fourth in the constructors' championship standings, behind Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.

Image source, PA Media

For the second time this season, a grand prix has been declared a heat-hazard race, as the summer heatwave lingers on.

The Italian Grand Prix was given the official designation as it is forecasted that temperatures will be more than 31C at some point during Sunday's race.

The ambient temperatures around Monza, north-east of Milan, are expected to be in the mid-30C region all weekend.

They peaked at 36C on Wednesday afternoon near Milan's Linate airport.

The ruling means drivers can use a system that flows cooled liquid, such as glycol, through a system of pipes in a fireproof top worn under their overalls.

The cooling kit is not mandatory, but any driver who chooses not to use it has to carry 5kg of ballast in their car to ensure they do not have a competitive advantage.

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes continue to lead the charge in the constructors' championship with George Russell's sprint win in the Netherlands and Kimi Antonelli's six wins this season bolstering their points tally.

McLaren have crept into the picture somewhat by virtue of Lando Norris' successive race wins but Ferrari remain in second place and are less than 100 points behind Mercedes.

Meanwhile Cadillac are still to score a point in their first season in Formula 1.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's the lay of the land in the drivers' championship after the Dutch Grand Prix.

George Russell, by virtue of his two wins this season, moved above Lewis Hamilton in the standings but level on points.

That meant Kimi Antonelli, having finished second in Zandvoort, leads by 59 points.

Lando Norris, who strung together back-to-back wins thanks to his triumph in the Netherlands, is 83 points behind but is rapidly chasing the leading pack..

Jay Freeman
BBC Sport

Buongiorno Formula 1 fans.

We've had a week off and the action continues as the European part of the season nears its conclusion.

In the UK the weather might have petered out somewhat after a scorcher of a summer. But in Monza? Well the weather's just bellissimo.

A little too bellissimo in fact, which we'll get to later.

Lando Norris made it two grand prix wins from two last time around as he reigned supreme in the final race in the Netherlands before it left the F1 calendar.

But will he make it three in a row? The weekend starts here, folks.