SummaryCompanies Verstappen fastest in first session, Sainz top overallFerrari's Sainz celebrating 29th birthdayPerez brings out red flags at ParabolicaVerstappen chasing record 10th win in a rowMONZA, Italy, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Ferrari's Carlos Sainz celebrated his 29th birthday and kept the home crowd happy with the fastest lap in practice for the Italian Grand Prix on Friday after Formula One leader Max Verstappen set the early pace.
The Spaniard lapped Monza's 'Temple of Speed' with a best time of one minute 21.355 seconds with McLaren's Lando Norris second and 0.019 slower in a second session that was twice red-flagged.
Red Bull's Verstappen was top of the first session, in 1:22.657, ahead of a weekend that could secure him a record 10th win in a row.
Sainz was second fastest in that opening practice.
Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes used only hard tyres during the opening session.
Persons:
Sainz, Ferrari's Sainz, Perez, Verstappen, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, McLaren's Lando Norris, Bull's Verstappen, Gianpiero Lambiase, Sergio Perez, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Leclerc, Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton, It's, we've, Mercedes, Andrew Shovlin, Bull, Russell, Liam Lawson, Daniel Ricciardo, Felipe Drugovich, Lance, Aston Martin, Alan Baldwin, Toby Davis, Ken Ferris
Organizations:
Speed, Monza, Briton, Mercedes, Ferrari, New, Aston, Ascari, Thomson
Locations:
MONZA, Italy