Formula 1 continues the Italian Grand Prix with Free Practice 2, after a turbulent Free Practice 1, with numerous drivers going off, and star rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashing out.
The drivers head out at 17:00 local time, continuing to find their groove in the newly resurfaced track. It’s a hot and sunny day on track, with temperatures in the low to mid 30s.
Early into the session, there was a tangle between Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, Lando Norris’ McLaren, and Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber, with the two latter drivers going into the runoff down into Rettifilio.
Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc sets the timing tower alight 15 minutes into the session, going on top with a 1:21.119 with mediums, 0.145s ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz on the same tyre, even with a bit of a moment in the first chicane.
The problems continue on track with drivers going off, with Max Verstappen aborting his lap after an unstability in the Parabolica.
The McLarens then did their qualifying simulations on track, with Lando Norris clocking in a 1:20.851, and teammate Oscar Piastri 0.007s behind. The latter clocking in the fastest first and second sectors 20 minutes in the session.
Norris continues to solidify the lead 27 minutes in, clocking a 1:20.741 on the soft tyre on their simulations. While Lewis Hamilton clocks in 0.003s ahead with a 1:20.738.
The session was red flagged 31 minutes in, after Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen goes into the gravel and crashed into the barrier into Lesmo 2, seemingly losing grip in entry as the rear let go.
Session restarted in 17:42 local time with 19 drivers on track. In particular, Mercedes F1 driver George Russell getting laps in only after the restart. The car was clear to go after Antonelli’s crash in FP1. Only 56 minutes in he was able to get a qualifying simulation in out of sync, clocking in P6 with a 1:21.068.
The teams then started to optimise their race trims, with the top teams clocking in the same ballpark of 1:25s.
A notable omission from the top of the list are the two Red Bulls, with Verstappen 15th and Perez being 16th specifically. The former notably aborting laps due to moments of going off track and instability with the car.
Hamilton, Norris, Sainz, Piastri, Leclerc, Russell, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Alonso, and Stroll round out the top 10 as the flag falls, concluding an eventful Friday of the race weekend.
