Antonelli: We focused on the pace in long series.

      Kimi Antonelli, the Italian driver for Mercedes, showed the third fastest time in Friday's practice in Monza, although, of course, he wasn't pushing his car to the limit, as he will have to start from the back rows regardless of the results of tomorrow's qualifying. This weekend marks the fifth power unit change for his Mercedes since the start of the season, and the leader of the personal standings has been penalized.

      But Kimi isn't too upset – just like his teammate, George Russell, who finished the day at the top of the timesheet.

      Kimi Antonelli (3rd): "Of course, it's incredibly great in Monza! I feel the warm support of the crowd, although today didn't quite go as usual. We focused more on the pace during long runs – to be honest, it was a bit strange.

      But overall, Friday went well, we gathered a lot of information and will prepare for the remaining days of the weekend. There are many different approaches that can be applied on this track to help move forward, and today, when I was driving behind the competitors' cars, I tried to observe their actions, noting what they were doing differently than us, how they were managing their energy, and it was very interesting.

      Definitely, Ferrari is vying for pole position on this track, as they have received upgraded engines, which has certainly allowed them to make a step forward and gain speed on the straights. At the same time, we know how well their cars handle corners, so I have no doubt that there will be a real battle for pole."

      George Russell (1st): "We are back at the Monza racetrack – and it's wonderful! The track is magnificent, and driving here is always fun. We worked confidently on Friday, completing an extensive program, and it seems that our car is capable of good pace both on a single fast lap and during long runs.

      After the first practice, we made several changes to the setup, which also helped, but there is still a lot to do, which we will tackle in the evening.

      It seems that Ferrari is very fast, and we will primarily be competing against them. We also know how strong the McLaren team is, and I have no doubt that they will also be aiming for high results tomorrow. Red Bull Racing cannot be counted out either.

      Overall, the start of the weekend looks promising, but it's too early to draw any conclusions. Let's see what we can achieve on Saturday."