Only Lando Norris ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in Monza’s second free practice session

It was Lando Norris who was the fastest in the second free practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari poached the Briton’s McLaren, which lapped in 1’19″878, just 83 thousandths ahead of the Monegasque.

Third at 96 thousandths in the Williams Carlos Sainz, until last year a Maranello driver. The Spaniard was ahead of the world leader, Australian Oscar Piastri, fourth at 181 thousandths with McLaren.

Very close to Piastri Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the seven-time world champion Briton is fifth in the second Ferrari, 192 thousandths behind Norris. The Dutch winner of the last four world championships is sixth at 199 thousandths. Seventh, but already more than 3 tenths behind, is Alexander Albon in the second Williams followed by Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber.

Tomorrow the third and final free practice and qualifying sessions will be a prelude to the Italian Grand Prix, the only one along with the British Grand Prix to have been held in all seasons of the Formula 1 World Championship, and the Brianza circuit will host it for the 75th time in 76 editions (the only absence was in 1980, when the race was held at Imola).