Italian Grand Prix – Second Practice Session Report
Monza, Italy – Lando Norris emerged at the top of a tightly contested second practice session for the Italian Grand Prix, clocking a lap time of 1m19.878s. The McLaren driver set an early benchmark that went unmatched throughout the session, establishing his competitive edge approximately halfway through the 60-minute practice.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari challenged Norris closely, finishing just 0.083s slower despite a shaky start. Leclerc reported a lack of grip during his initial runs but rallied to improve his performance on subsequent laps. Carlos Sainz maintained his strong momentum from the previous session, securing third place and lapping only 0.013s off Leclerc.
Oscar Piastri, recovering from a less than ideal opening lap, improved to fourth with a time that was 0.181s adrift of Norris. Lewis Hamilton, who topped the first practice session, followed in fifth, just 0.192s off the leader, after experiencing a challenging practice day as well.
Max Verstappen reported early handling issues, describing his Red Bull as “really jumpy” over bumps. However, he managed to secure sixth place, finishing 0.199s behind Norris. Both Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top eight, followed by Yuki Tsunoda in ninth and George Russell in tenth after managing a hydraulics failure earlier in the event.
The session also saw significant incidents, including Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s early exit after crashing into the gravel at the second Lesmo. Gabriel Bortoleto will face scrutiny from the stewards for overtaking under yellow flags, while Franco Colapinto recorded the slowest time, nearly 0.2s off the pack.
Timing Summary
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:19.878
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.083
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +0.096
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.181
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – +0.192
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.199
- Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.209
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – +0.236
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) – +0.391
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.407
Conclusion: As the teams prepare for qualifying, Norris’s performance sets an imposing standard, while various drivers will need to rectify issues exposed during this competitive practice session.
