Mercedes drivers dominate Monza FP2 as Ferrari struggles

George Russell set the fastest lap in the second practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, edging out his teammate Kimi Antonelli and pushing Charles Leclerc to second after the Ferrari driver topped the first session. Russell achieved the top time on two consecutive soft-tyre runs following an early stint on the hard tyre, though he reported a suspicious suspension vibration to his team at the end of the session.

Leclerc attempted to match his FP1 performance with a soft-tyre run late in the session, but a spin at the Variante della Roggia chicane disrupted his effort. Lando Norris, who had won the previous two races, went off onto the grass while avoiding Lance Stroll's Aston Martin at Turn 1 early in the session.

In the midfield, McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished fourth, while teammate Lewis Hamilton placed fifth, slightly behind Leclerc's pace. Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad recorded a strong seventh, ahead of Haas driver Ollie Bearman, who used an upgraded Ferrari power unit.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen expressed concerns about the car's handling, noting a lack of downforce, grip, and brake performance, and later describing front-axle bounce. He finished ninth, ahead of Racing Bulls' Yuki Tsunoda, who was substituting for Liam Lawson. Alpine's Franco Colapinto, using a new upgrade, posted the best time among Alpine drivers and avoided a crash after briefly entering the gravel at the exit of the Ascari curve.

The session highlighted Mercedes' pace advantage and ongoing challenges for Ferrari and other teams as they prepare for qualifying.