Lewis Hamilton sets early pace at Italian Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton sits in the pits during the first practice session of the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit on July 4, 2014
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Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest time in first practice for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Lewis Hamilton has set the fastest time in the first practice session for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza this morning.

The Mercedes driver completed the lap in 1:26.187, over half a second faster than McLaren's Jenson Button, who finished the morning in second place, just ahead of Hamilton's teammate Nico Rosberg.

Ferrari showed promise in front of the team's home fans, with Fernando Alonso just a couple of tenths back from Rosberg in fourth, while Kimi Raikkonen came in seventh.

Belgium Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo was forced to return to the Red Bull garage early when his car suffered an engine failure, but current world champion Sebastian Vettel showed strong pace in the sister car to finish sixth.

Lotus's Romain Grosjean sat out the session, with test driver Charles Pic taking his car out, while Roberto Mehri replaced Kamui Kobayashi in the Caterham. Daniel Juncadella started in the Force India, before Sergio Perez took over midway through, while Giedo van der Garde drove in place of Adrian Sutil for Sauber.

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Jenson Button (McLaren)
3. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
4. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
5. Kevin Magnussen (McLaren)
6. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
8. Sergio Perez (Force India)
9. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso)
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India)
11. Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber)
12. Valtteri Bottas (Williams)
13. Felipe Massa (Williams)
14. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso)
15. Giedo van der Garde (Sauber)
16. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
17. Daniel Juncadella (Force India)
18. Pastor Maldonado (Lotus)
19. Max Chilton (Marussia)
20. Jules Bianchi (Marussia)
21. Charles Pic (Lotus)
22. Roberto Mehri (Caterham)
23. Marcus Ericsson (Caterham)

Red Bull Racing's German driver Sebastian Vettel walks off the circuit after winning the qualifying session for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on November 16, 2013
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