F1 Full Results | Italian GP FP2 sees Russell fightback

Summary

After leading for much of the Italian Grand Prix, George Russell was overtaken by Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli in the final laps, securing the victory. Antonelli's impressive comeback from the back of the grid was a highlight of the race. Meanwhile, Martin Brundle indicated that Russell should scrutinize Mercedes' Virtual Safety Car call, which could have impacted his chances of winning. Russell also topped practice sessions leading into the race, but ultimately finished second after the strategic and on-track battles.

The Full Story

George Russell demonstrated strong pace throughout the Italian Grand Prix weekend’s practice sessions, notably topping the timesheets in both the second and third free practice runs at Monza. After Charles Leclerc led the opening session, Russell emerged as the frontrunner in FP2, edging out Leclerc and setting the tone for Mercedes as the weekend progressed. According to Motorsport Week, Russell’s performance was particularly significant given that his teammate Lewis Hamilton was set to start the race from the back of the grid due to an engine penalty, opening the door for Russell to carry the team’s hopes at the Temple of Speed.

The final practice session, FP3, saw Russell once again claim the fastest time, reinforcing his status as the driver to beat heading into qualifying. Autosport and Motorsport.com both highlighted how Mercedes appeared to have a clear advantage over the competition at Monza, with Russell leading Hamilton and Max Verstappen in the top three. RACER also noted Russell’s pace, mentioning that Hamilton finished closely behind him, while ESPN F1 reported on a tense moment between Hamilton and Verstappen reminiscent of their 2021 title battle, underscoring the competitive intensity among the frontrunners.

The practice sessions were not without incidents. Motorsport Week detailed how several drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon, failed to comply with race director instructions regarding the escape road, a recurring issue that disrupted some runs. Albon also faced technical difficulties early in FP3 when he reported a steering wheel problem, forcing him back to the garage. Other drivers experienced moments on track: Franco Colapinto briefly ventured into the gravel, Liam Lawson spun at Prima Variante but avoided damage, and Oscar Piastri struggled with rear-end grip, expressing frustration over his laps and requesting a tow to improve performance. Piastri’s McLaren, along with teammate Lando Norris, did not look particularly competitive during the sessions, with Piastri only managing 12th and Norris 8th in FP3.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, despite being on home soil, was somewhat on the backfoot due to the Mercedes engine penalty affecting his teammate. Nevertheless, he set an early benchmark in FP3 with a lap of 1:23.032 on soft tyres, which stood for a significant portion of the session before Russell and others improved upon it. Charles Leclerc was close behind Antonelli early on, while Pierre Gasly also posted competitive times on medium tyres. The mixed tyre strategies across teams reflected the balancing act between outright pace and tyre management at Monza, where slipstreaming and tyre choice are crucial.

The battle between Hamilton and Verstappen in FP3 added a layer of drama to the weekend. ESPN F1 described their on-track clash as evoking memories of their intense 2021 championship fight, highlighting the ongoing rivalry that continues to captivate fans. Despite the close encounter, Verstappen remained competitive, finishing just behind the Mercedes duo, as confirmed by Autosport and Motorsport.com, signaling that Red Bull remains in the hunt even if Mercedes currently holds the edge.

Looking ahead, Russell’s consistent pace across FP2 and FP3 positions him as a strong favourite for qualifying and potentially the race at Monza. With Hamilton starting at the back due to his penalty, the spotlight will be on Russell to deliver a strong result for Mercedes. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Leclerc and Red Bull’s Verstappen will be eager to challenge the Mercedes advantage, particularly given the historical importance of slipstreaming and track position at the Italian GP. Observers will also be watching how McLaren addresses their apparent lack of pace and how drivers manage the tricky escape road sections, which have already caused several excursions during practice.

In summary, the practice sessions at Monza have set the stage for an intriguing qualifying battle, with George Russell’s fightback and Mercedes’ apparent superiority contrasting with Ferrari’s and Red Bull’s efforts to close the gap. The weekend remains finely poised as the teams prepare for the decisive moments that will shape the Italian Grand Prix outcome.