Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the second free practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza today. The Ferrari driver recorded a lap seven-thousandths of a second quicker than George Russell, who placed second for Mercedes. Leclerc’s performance follows a strong showing for Ferrari in the earlier Free Practice 1 session, where he also topped the timesheets, leading a Ferrari one-two with teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen, who sat out the first practice session, returned to his Red Bull RB22 for FP2. He currently holds eighth position, approximately eight-tenths of a second slower than Russell’s time. Verstappen’s initial FP1 duties were handled by rookie driver Ayumu Iwasa.
The session saw a dynamic leaderboard, with Russell initially setting the pace before Leclerc improved to claim the top spot. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who is facing a grid penalty for an engine change this weekend, finished fifth in the session.
Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad demonstrated competitive pace, placing seventh, ahead of Verstappen. His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was twelfth. This performance indicates a strong showing for the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team in comparison to Verstappen’s current position.
Red Bull Racing has introduced several upgrades for the Monza weekend, including revisions to the floor body and front wing, alongside reliability improvements for the rear corner and exhaust tailpipe. Ferrari also brought four circuit-specific changes aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag.
Drivers are now transitioning to longer runs on harder compound tyres, focusing on race preparation for Sunday’s Grand Prix. This phase is crucial for understanding car behaviour over extended periods. [cite: source text]
Concerns have been raised by drivers regarding the impact of the 2026 technical regulations on energy deployment at Monza. The circuit’s long straights present challenges for battery recharging, potentially affecting both qualifying and race performance.
Monza, known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, is hosting Round 13 of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Italian Grand Prix weekend runs from September 4-6.
