George Russell set the pace in the second practice session for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, topping FP2 at Monza ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Kimi Antonelli completed a strong session for Mercedes in third, while Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five at the Temple of Speed.
FP2 was largely uneventful, although Lance Stroll attracted attention after drifting across Norris in the braking zone at Turn 1. The Aston Martin driver is set to face an investigation after Friday’s track action.
Max Verstappen, making his first appearance of the weekend in the RB22, endured a relatively quiet session and finished ninth for Red Bull.
Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren appear closely matched at this early stage of the weekend, with Ferrari having topped FP1 earlier on Friday.
Leclerc endured a late scare when he spun his SF-26, but the Monegasque driver managed to keep the car away from the barriers and continued without major damage.
Several teams also spent time practising slipstreaming in preparation for qualifying, with the effect expected to be particularly significant around Monza’s high-speed layout.
Gabriel Bortoleto’s session ended prematurely after Audi detected a potential issue with the new power unit fitted to his R26.
Franco Colapinto also had a dramatic moment late in the session, catching a snap from his Alpine as he ran through the gravel at Turn 10, the exit of the Ascari chicane, and narrowly avoided the barriers.
Russell’s pace gives Mercedes an early boost heading into Saturday, although Ferrari and McLaren remain firmly in contention after Friday’s opening two sessions.
