In a thrilling display of speed and skill, Lando Norris has claimed the top spot in the second free practice session (FP2) for the highly anticipated Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The McLaren star clocked an impressive lap time of 1:19.878, narrowly edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.083 seconds, setting the stage for an electrifying weekend of racing. Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams, showcased his prowess by securing third place, adding to the competitive atmosphere as teams prepare for the main event.
As the sun bathed the Monza circuit in late-summer warmth, drivers wasted no time getting to work. George Russell, eager to make up for a brief interruption in FP1, was the first to set a timed lap on hard tires. The early minutes saw a fierce exchange of fastest laps between Russell and Max Verstappen, but it was the McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri who soon reasserted their dominance, reminding everyone of McLaren’s resurgence in the sport. Piastri, however, faced a minor setback when he reported a cracked right-hand mirror, though he quickly reassured his team that he was fine to continue racing.
The drama didn’t end there for McLaren, as Norris experienced a setback of his own, losing his right mirror completely during the session. Meanwhile, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly found himself in the gravel at Ascari, and Lewis Hamilton, who had been the fastest in FP1 but is facing a five-place grid penalty, expressed frustration after encountering a sluggish Alex Albon at the first chicane.
The action was briefly halted just ten minutes into the session when Andrea Kimi Antonelli spun his Mercedes into the gravel at Lesmo 2, radioing in, “I’m beached. Sorry about that.” This was just the beginning of a chaotic session that saw several drivers struggling for grip and control. Both Piastri and Bortoleto had their share of wide moments at Lesmo 2, sending clouds of gravel flying.
In a surprising turn, it was announced that Piastri would face an investigation following the session for not adhering to the race director’s instructions, while Bortoleto was cited for a yellow-flag infringement. The tricky Lesmos continued to challenge drivers, with Albon nearly losing control at Lesmo 1, exclaiming over team radio, “Big off. Just check the floor.”
As the session progressed, Verstappen briefly took the fastest lap before Sainz surged ahead, clocking in at 0.127 seconds faster. Albon quickly climbed to third, confirming his team’s solid prospects at Monza, where they have consistently scored points since 2021.
Norris, not one to back down, faced a scare when he aggressively hit the curb at the second chicane, but he quickly retaliated with a stunning lap on soft tires, setting the fastest second and third sectors to reclaim the top spot. Sainz attempted to close the gap, but his efforts fell short, leaving him trailing Norris by 0.398 seconds.
Hamilton, always a fierce competitor, fought back and moved into second place with a new fastest first sector, only for Sainz to better his time, narrowing Norris’s lead to 0.096 seconds. Meanwhile, Leclerc expressed his frustration over the radio, stating, “No grip at all. Like, zero,” as he struggled to find pace.
Verstappen, the reigning world champion, faced challenges of his own, describing his RB21 as feeling “nervous” over the bumps, and after initially abandoning his first soft lap, he managed to improve to fifth place but remained 0.199 seconds behind Norris.
As the session neared its conclusion, Leclerc finally found some rhythm, elevating himself to second place but still unable to surpass Norris. However, his long-run performance took a hit as he locked up at Ascari, skidding through the gravel. Hamilton also raised concerns about potential reliability issues, reporting a power drop between Turns 6 and 7, while he too fell victim to the gravel at Lesmo 2.
With the stage set at Monza, fans can only anticipate the fierce competition that lies ahead in this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, as teams battle not only for victory but also for crucial championship points in what promises to be an unforgettable race.
