George Russell topped the second free observe session for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, main Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli in a intently contested session at Monza.
Russell set the benchmark with a 1:22.559, ending simply 0.120 seconds forward of Leclerc, whereas Antonelli was solely an extra 0.021s behind in third. The consequence provides Mercedes an encouraging begin to the Italian Grand Prix weekend, though Antonelli faces a major grid penalty for Sunday’s race after taking an engine change.
All 22 common drivers returned to motion for FP2 after 4 drivers – Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez – had been changed by rookies throughout the opening observe session.
Because the pit lane opened at 16:00 native time, a lot of the discipline instantly headed onto the historic Monza circuit, with groups initially specializing in runs on the medium and onerous Pirelli compounds.
After the opening 10 minutes, Antonelli led the best way with a 1:23.417, with simply 0.055s separating the Mercedes driver from team-mate Russell and Leclerc.
Leclerc endured an early second on the first chicane, locking up and briefly working by the escape space, however the Ferrari driver rapidly returned to the circuit.
Verstappen, in the meantime, reported that his Crimson Bull was affected by an absence of downforce. The reigning champion returned to the pits, the place his entrance wing was changed, earlier than finally setting a time ok for eighth on the medium tyres.
Russell takes management on the tender tyres
The main target quickly shifted in the direction of qualifying simulations, with drivers starting to suit the tender Pirelli compound. Antonelli was among the many first to make the change, however his preliminary flying lap was compromised by site visitors by the Parabolica.
His second try was a lot stronger, producing a 1:22.700 and making him the primary driver to interrupt into the 1:22s.
Russell initially aborted his personal soft-tyre run and returned to the pits for a front-wing adjustment. As soon as again on observe, nonetheless, the Mercedes driver instantly confirmed his tempo, reducing the benchmark to 1:22.686.
At that stage, the Mercedes pair had opened up a bonus of greater than seven tenths over the remainder of the sector.
Leclerc then produced a robust lap of 1:22.679, briefly shifting Ferrari to the highest of the timing sheets. Russell responded nearly instantly, setting a 1:22.559 to reclaim first place.
Leclerc retains Ferrari in rivalry
Leclerc finally completed second, persevering with what has been a formidable Friday for Ferrari at its residence circuit. The Monegasque driver did, nonetheless, have one other second late within the session when he spun on the second chicane. Luckily for Ferrari, Leclerc prevented harm and was capable of proceed.
Antonelli accomplished the highest three regardless of reporting understeer throughout the session. His 1:22.700 left him simply 0.141s behind his Mercedes team-mate.
Lando Norris was fourth for McLaren, 0.384s off Russell’s benchmark, whereas Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton accomplished the highest 5.
Oscar Piastri was sixth, forward of Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad and Haas driver Ollie Bearman. Verstappen recovered to eighth, with Yuki Tsunoda finishing the highest 10.
Norris sad after Stroll near-miss
The session additionally featured a probably harmful second involving Norris and Lance Stroll. With a number of drivers circulating shut collectively in an effort to profit from a tow down Monza’s lengthy straights, Norris encountered Stroll approaching the primary chicane.
The McLaren driver was pressured onto the grass within the braking zone after Stroll moved throughout onto the racing line. Norris described the scenario as „harmful“ over staff radio.
Site visitors administration is predicted to stay a significant speaking level all through the weekend, with Monza’s lengthy straights making slipstreaming significantly beneficial throughout qualifying.
Bortoleto suffers engine subject
Additional down the order, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto completed eleventh regardless of struggling a high-speed tour on the exit of the Ascari Chicane.
Liam Lawson was twelfth for Crimson Bull, adopted by Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg. Pierre Gasly was 14th, whereas team-mate Bortoleto was pressured to cease early with an engine subject.
Williams endured a troublesome session, with Alex Albon sixteenth and Carlos Sainz seventeenth. Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, Cadillac’s Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll accomplished the order.
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