George Russell set the fastest time in Free Practice 2 at Monza, posting a lap of 1:22.559 ahead of the 2026 Italian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver edged out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, who completed the top three despite starting from the back of the grid due to an engine change.
Russell’s time was 0.120 seconds quicker than Leclerc’s best effort, with Antonelli just 0.021 seconds behind the Ferrari driver. The session saw all 22 regular drivers take part, although some missed the earlier Free Practice 1 due to rookie substitutions. Max Verstappen faced challenges during the session, dealing with downforce issues that led to a front wing replacement and ultimately finished eighth.
The drivers experimented with a variety of Pirelli tyre compounds, including medium, hard, and soft tyres. Antonelli was the first to break the 1:23 barrier on soft tyres, setting a 1:22.700 before Russell improved on that after a front wing adjustment. Leclerc experienced a spin at the second chicane late in the session but was able to continue without damage. Meanwhile, Lando Norris had a near-miss incident at the first chicane and highlighted the risks involved in close racing.
Mercedes drivers showed a clear pace advantage during qualifying simulations, with more than seven tenths of a second separating them from the rest of the field. Several drivers faced incidents or technical difficulties throughout the session. Franco Colapinto went off at high speed, while Gabriel Bortoleto encountered an engine problem. Other notable participants included Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Oscar Piastri, and Fernando Alonso, representing a wide range of teams such as McLaren, Ferrari, Alpine, Williams, Cadillac, Aston Martin, and Audi.
Max Verstappen’s struggles with downforce and the subsequent front wing change limited his running in FP2, resulting in an eighth-place finish. The session underscored the challenges teams face in balancing car setup and tyre usage at the high-speed Monza circuit.
The Italian Grand Prix weekend schedule included this Free Practice 2 session on Friday, September 4, 2026, as part of the preparations for the race. The session provided valuable data for teams and drivers as they continue to fine-tune their cars ahead of qualifying and the race.
Overall, the FP2 times at Monza highlighted George Russell’s strong pace and Mercedes’ competitive position in the session, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli closely following. The incidents and technical issues experienced by several drivers also reflected the demanding nature of the track and the fine margins involved in extracting performance during practice.