Ireland's Alex Dunne finished 16th in the opening Italian Grand Prix practice session in Monza on Friday.
Deputising for Oscar Piastri, McLaren development driver Dunne produced a solid drive as he continues to build experience and embellish his reputation.
It's the second time this season the Offaly man has taken part in a Formula One practice session for the team.
Back in June, 19-year-old Dunne became the first Irish driver to take part in a F1 session for 22 years when setting the fourth fastest time in first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Dunne currently competes in the Formula 2 feeder series for the Rodin team.
Under the rules for 2025, F1 teams are required to field young drivers in free practice twice during the year, increasing from one in previous seasons.
He was behind the wheel of the MCL39, which is dominating the 2025 F1 constructors championship as well as the drivers' standings with title rivals Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Lewis Hamilton finished fastest on his Italian Grand Prix debut for Ferrari.
On Thursday, Hamilton described his opening campaign with the Scuderia as an "emotional rollercoaster", and he will serve a five-place grid drop for this weekend's race following a yellow-flag infringement at the previous round in the Netherlands.
The sanction will leave Hamilton facing an uphill struggle to end his wait for a Ferrari podium, but the Italian team's pace in the first running of the weekend at the Temple of Speed will provide the seven-time world champion with serious hope.
Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.169 seconds behind Hamilton, with Ferrari the class of the field at their home event.
Carlos Sainz finished third for Williams, 0.533 sec adrift of Hamilton, with Max Verstappen fourth for Red Bull. Home favourite Kimi Antonelli took fifth place in his Mercedes, one spot clear of Norris.
George Russell stopped on track with an engine failure in the closing moments to bring a premature end to the one-hour session.
Meanwhile, Monaco's long-term future on the Formula One calendar has been secured following confirmation of a new 10-year deal.
A contract was already in place for the prestigious street circuit race (pictured above) to continue until 2031, with Friday’s extension further rubber-stamping its future.
The new deal which runs until 2035 follows lengthy F1 contracts already in place for Silverstone (2034), Madrid (2035), Bahrain (2036), Australia (2037) and Miami and Austria (both 2041).
Lando Norris won in Monaco this season, although the event, an ever-present on the calendar since 1955 – other than the exception of the 2020 race which was cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic – has courted criticism for a lack of overtaking. A mandatory two-stop rule introduced for the race earlier this year did little to spice up the action.
Next year’s grand prix in Monte Carlo will be held on the first full weekend of June, moving from its traditional slot at the end of May.
