George Russell set the fastest time in the second practice session at the 2026 Formula 1® Italian Grand Prix, narrowly edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Russell’s best lap of 1m22.559s came during a competitive mid-session shootout on Pirelli soft tyres, with Leclerc close behind on 1m22.679s. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli completed the top three with a 1m22.700s lap.
The session began with most drivers running on hard tyres, producing moderate lap times before switching to the softer compound for the more intense phase of the practice. Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton followed in fourth and fifth positions respectively, while Oscar Piastri took sixth place. Max Verstappen returned to the car after a rookie outing by Ayumu Iwasa in the first practice but managed only ninth fastest in FP2.
Several notable moments marked the session, including a spin by Charles Leclerc at the second chicane and an incident where Lance Stroll impeded Lando Norris, which is currently under investigation by the FIA. Gabriel Bortoleto had to end his session early due to engine issues. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad impressed by briefly holding third place early on and finishing seventh, while Oliver Bearman showed promising pace for Haas, ending the session in eighth.
The close times between Russell, Leclerc, and Antonelli highlight the competitive nature of the session at Monza, with the soft tyre runs providing a clearer indication of the pace teams can expect. Mercedes showed strong performance with two drivers in the top three, while Ferrari remained competitive despite Leclerc’s spin. McLaren’s Norris and Piastri also demonstrated solid pace, maintaining their positions within the top six.
Max Verstappen’s return to the car after the first practice rookie run saw him place ninth, suggesting the Red Bull Racing team is still refining their setup following the driver change. Meanwhile, the Racing Bulls team benefited from Lindblad’s early pace, which stood out among midfield contenders. Haas’ Bearman also delivered an encouraging performance, finishing just behind Lindblad.
Technical issues affected some drivers, notably Gabriel Bortoleto, whose session was cut short due to engine troubles. The incident involving Lance Stroll and Lando Norris is under review, reflecting ongoing scrutiny over track conduct during practice sessions. Overall, the second practice session provided teams with valuable data on tyre performance and car balance ahead of the qualifying and race sessions at the Italian Grand Prix.
This session’s results offer a snapshot of the competitive order at Monza, with close lap times among the leading drivers and teams. The incidents and technical challenges encountered underline the fine margins teams face in optimizing performance on this historic circuit.