George Russell set the pace in Free Practice 2 for the Italian Grand Prix, putting Mercedes on top at Monza after a competitive session. Russell’s 1:22.559 was enough to finish 0.120 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli third.
Leclerc had topped FP1 ahead of Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but Mercedes moved to the front in the afternoon session. The tight margins set up a close battle at the front heading into Saturday’s qualifying.
Mercedes set the pace
Antonelli initially set the fastest time on the hard tyre, with Russell just 0.017s behind. Russell then moved ahead with a 1:23.202, also on the hard compound.
The switch to soft tyres brought further improvements. Antonelli set a 1:22.700 before Russell went 0.014s faster. Leclerc then put Ferrari at the top with a 1:22.679, only for Russell to reclaim P1 with a 1:22.559.
That proved enough for Russell to finish the session fastest.
Leclerc finished second, while Antonelli completed the top three. Lando Norris was fourth, with Hamilton fifth and Oscar Piastri sixth.
Verstappen struggles as Racing Bulls impress
Max Verstappen returned to the track in FP2 after sitting out the opening session, with rookie Ayumu Iwasa taking his place in FP1. The Red Bull driver spent much of the session reporting issues with the car, including a lack of downforce and later a bouncing front end.
He finished ninth, 0.818s off Russell’s pace and behind both Racing Bulls. Arvid Lindblad finished seventh to lead the midfield, while Yuki Tsunoda was 10th, giving Racing Bulls a strong showing in FP2.
Ollie Bearman also made the top 10 for Haas, finishing eighth while running Ferrari’s updated power unit.
Incidents on track
Traffic was a factor throughout the session, with several drivers encountering slower cars on track.
Norris was forced off the track after Stroll moved across his path on the straight, prompting an angry reaction from the McLaren driver. The incident was noted by the stewards and is under investigation.
Leclerc also had a moment late in the session, losing the rear of his Ferrari at the exit of Turn 5 and spinning into the gravel. He avoided the barriers and was able to continue.
Gabriel Bortoleto, meanwhile, was forced to return to the pits with an engine problem, while Franco Colapinto also ran wide through the gravel after bouncing over the kerbs. Neither incident required a stoppage
The battle takes shape
Mercedes leave Friday with the strongest headline result, but Ferrari remain firmly in the fight. Just 0.120s separated Russell and Leclerc, while Antonelli was only 0.141s off the lead.
McLaren are also within striking distance, with Norris and Piastri fourth and sixth respectively. Verstappen, meanwhile, has plenty to assess after missing FP1 and encountering several issues in FP2.
FP3 on Saturday morning will give teams one final chance to fine-tune their cars before qualifying. With such small margins at the front, Saturday’s sessions could prove crucial.