The track's rubbering in and ramping up, now.

George Russell's just zoomed into top spot with a 1:22.687, a time that's three-and-a-half tenths faster than his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

And both on the soft tyre, too.

We're looking a bit bunched up in the top three at the minute.

Less than a tenth separates Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton so far.

Whereas the first two practice sessions on Friday were dominated by Ferrari and then Mercedes, this session's quite a mixed bag.

Kimi Antonelli aside, I'm not sure we've really seen the best of any driver or team at the minute.

Engineer: "That's a good lap in free air."

Verstappen: "Yeah but I need the tow, to see the difference again, this is slow."

It's a crowded old track out there at the minute.

Oscar Piastri's having a pretty miserable time in his McLaren so far as he locks up going into the first chicane. He isn't the first, and he won't be the last to do that.

Rebecca Clancy
F1 journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Kimi Antonelli is really setting the marker. It will be incredibly frustrating if you are George Russell and Antonelli technically gets pole, obviously he won't start there as he is starting at the back but Antonelli is absolutely flying. That is raw pace from the Mercedes.

Kimi Antonelli's in a bit of a league of his own at the minute.

No one can get anywhere near him so far.

Image source, Getty Images

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:23.032

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.239

3. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.384

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.423

5. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.476

Piastri: "When there's someone behind, tell me what they're doing so I can get a tow because this is ridiculous."

Rebecca Clancy
F1 journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I would be utterly amazed if Ferrari had that engine turned up to full yesterday because it is a brand new engine, it is an upgrade. They won't want to be pushing it to the limit. They will be pushing it 80 to 90%.

Lawson: "Yeah I mean, the rear mate in low speed. Nothing I can do."

Liam Lawson's just spun his way into the first chicane, seemingly losing the rear of his Red Bull as he approached the corner.

He comes to a standstill in the middle of the track but eventually gets the car going with the incident causing a brief yellow flag.

Rebecca Clancy
F1 journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It is not uncommon for us to hear Max Verstappen moaning on a Friday, fairly regular occurrence. But the problem here with Red Bull is that he has been unhappy for quite some time now with this car. We all know what he said about the regulations. He has toned that down now, obviously he signed that contract saying he is staying until 2030 with Red Bull.

But it is just the balance, he can't seem to work this car. He went out in FP2 fairly early on, didn't really like the handling. Within about two laps was back in and they were changing the front wing, just cannot get it to work.

Lewis Hamilton goes very wide at the second Lesmo which, needless to say, has heavily impacted on a rather sluggish 1:24.912 he's just set.

Ferrari have looked in decent shape so far this weekend and his team-mate Charles Leclerc's just gone second fastest with a 1:23.250, with Max Verstappen currently third fastest just a couple of tenths behind him.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist at Monza

Image source, BBC Sport

It's slightly cloudy in Monza today, which is a welcome relief after yesterday's oven-like temperatures.

I'm on the hunt to find out how Ferrari fans feel about Kimi Antonelli. The 20-year-old is top of the championship and could end Italy's long wait for a homegrown title winner. The catch is, he drives for Mercedes, not the country's beloved Scuderia.

In the fanzone yesterday, I spotted what would be considered a rare find in these parts: an Italian Silver Arrows supporter. Emma is here to see if favourite driver Antonelli can work his magic at the Temple of Speed with that hefty grid drop.

"Of course, I am a little bit of a Ferrarista because I'm Italian. But honestly, I love Kimi, I support him," says Emma.

One thing Emma and boyfriend Alessandro, on the tifosi side of the fence, can agree on is a maiden championship crown for Antonelli would mean "Italy is back on top".

You can read Antonelli is 'disrupting' the rules of fandom in Ferrari's Italy here

Kimi Antonelli has just hauled his Mercedes into the fastest time of the session so far.

He set a 1:23.032 - seven tenths faster than Franco Colapinto's previous fastest time.

Anyway, speaking of Antonelli..

1. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) 1:23.766

2. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.109

3. Liam Lawson (Red Bull) +0.474

4. Carlos Sainz (Williams) +0.876

5. Ollie Bearman (Haas) +1.156

Rebecca Clancy
F1 journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I think it will be chaos, we watched the F2 qualifying yesterday and 22 cars falling over each other to push someone else to go first so they can get the tow.

Just on Alpine, happy hunting ground for both drivers, Colapinto where he made his F1 debut, Gasly where he got his maiden win back in 2020 and they look like they're working very nicely together.

I think the slipstream is going to be essential here.

Alpine are currently the fastest team on the grid with Franco Colapinto bettering his team-mate Pierre Gasly by just over a tenth with a 1:23.766.

The Ferraris, McLarens and Mercedes are yet to get out for a lap yet, mind.

Image source, Getty Images