Friday Report - Norris quickest ahead of Leclerc

Lando Norris
© McLaren

Lando Norris ended Friday on top at Monza by leading the second free practice session for the Italian Grand Prix, heading Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.083s in a disrupted hour that featured an early red flag.

Norris, seeking to recover ground in the championship after retiring in Zandvoort, had already shown pace on the medium tyres before switching to softs to record a 1m19.878s lap. That remained unbeaten as Ferrari’s Leclerc improved late with a 1m19.961s, finding grip after initially struggling and running 10th. Williams’ Carlos Sainz underlined his strong weekend start with third place at 1m19.974s, narrowly ahead of Oscar Piastri at 1m20.059s.

The session was interrupted nine minutes in when Andrea Kimi Antonelli lost the rear of his Mercedes at Lesmo 2, skating into the gravel and ending his afternoon after just four laps. It was a difficult home showing for the 19-year-old.

After the stoppage Max Verstappen briefly led with a 1m20.077s on softs before falling to sixth, behind both Ferraris and McLarens and also trailing Sainz. Lewis Hamilton, fastest in FP1, was fifth with a 1m20.070s, just behind Piastri. The gap across the top six was covered by two tenths, suggesting a close battle into Saturday.

Alex Albon maintained Williams’ strong form with seventh in 1m20.179s, edging Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg at 1m20.241s. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda followed with a 1m20.269s, ahead of George Russell, who put his Mercedes 10th at 1m20.276s.

Isack Hadjar, fresh from a Zandvoort podium, was 11th for Racing Bulls at 1m20.383s. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto (1m20.475s) split the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll (13th, 1m20.528s) and Fernando Alonso (15th, 1m20.645s), while Haas drivers Oliver Bearman (14th, 1m20.607s) and Esteban Ocon (16th, 1m20.654s) were separated by less than a tenth.

Behind them, Liam Lawson managed 1m20.811s for 17th, while Alpine endured another challenging session as Pierre Gasly could do no better than 18th at 1m21.102s and Franco Colapinto 20th with a 1m21.564s. Antonelli’s brief run left him 19th on 1m21.367s.

The day’s results reinforced McLaren and Ferrari’s strong showing, while Red Bull and Mercedes appeared closer than in recent rounds. With qualifying simulations complete, teams will turn to final race runs in FP3 on Saturday at 12:30 local time, before the battle for pole in the afternoon.