George Russell topped the second free practice session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, leading Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli in a closely fought FP2 at Monza.
The Mercedes driver set the fastest lap of the session with a 1:22.559, edging out Leclerc’s Ferrari by just 0.120 seconds. Antonelli completed the top three, only 0.021s behind his teammate, despite knowing he will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid after taking an engine change penalty.
FP2 saw the return of all 22 regular drivers after several teams used rookie drivers during the opening practice session. Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez were back in their usual seats as the teams began fine-tuning their setups for qualifying and the race.
As soon as the pit lane opened, most drivers headed straight onto the Monza circuit, running a combination of medium and hard Pirelli tyres. Early on, Antonelli immediately showed strong pace, setting the benchmark at 1:23.417, with Russell and Leclerc just fractions behind.
Leclerc had a small moment at the first chicane after locking up and briefly running through the escape area, while Verstappen struggled with his Red Bull. The reigning champion complained about a lack of downforce before returning to the garage for a front-wing change. His first competitive lap on medium tyres only placed him eighth.
The session became increasingly tense as drivers searched for slipstream advantages on Monza’s long straights. Several cars circulated closely together, with Lando Norris narrowly avoiding trouble at the first chicane after Lance Stroll moved onto the racing line. The reigning world champion called the situation “dangerous” over team radio.
When the soft tyres arrived, Antonelli was among the first to make the switch. His opening attempt was compromised by traffic at the Parabolica, but his second flying lap delivered a major improvement. The Italian became the first driver to break into the 1:22 range, setting a 1:22.700.
Russell initially struggled with his first soft-tyre run and returned to the pits for a front-wing adjustment. Once back on track, however, the Briton immediately found more pace and lowered the benchmark to 1:22.686.
As teams moved into qualifying simulations, Ferrari showed its strength once again. Leclerc briefly took the top spot with a 1:22.679, continuing his impressive pace from FP1, before Russell responded with his session-leading 1:22.559.
The Mercedes driver’s time remained unbeaten until the chequered flag, securing the top position ahead of Leclerc. The Ferrari driver had a late scare when he spun at the second chicane in the final 10 minutes, but he recovered without damage.
Antonelli finished third while reporting some understeer issues with his Mercedes. Behind the leading trio, Lando Norris placed fourth, followed by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri, Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad, Haas driver Ollie Bearman, Max Verstappen, and Yuki Tsunoda completing the top 10.
Verstappen’s difficult session continued as Red Bull struggled to match Mercedes and Ferrari’s pace around Monza’s high-speed layout. The Dutchman ended FP2 in ninth place, highlighting Red Bull’s ongoing challenge ahead of qualifying.
Further down the order, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto finished 11th after a high-speed moment at the exit of the Ascari Chicane. Liam Lawson followed in the second Red Bull, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine. Gabriel Bortoleto’s session ended early after an engine issue forced the Audi driver to stop.
Williams pair Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz finished 16th and 17th, while Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, Cadillac drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, and Lance Stroll completed the field.
With Mercedes showing strong one-lap pace and Ferrari proving competitive on home soil, the battle for pole position at Monza is shaping up to be one of the closest qualifying fights of the season.
What do you think? Can Ferrari convert this strong Monza pace into a home victory, or will Mercedes steal the spotlight? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Adhe is part of the 88 Eight Box Editorial Team, covering JDM culture, motorsport, automotive technology, and industry news. The team focuses on delivering original automotive stories, reviews, and insights for enthusiasts worldwide.
