Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr. set the fastest time in the second free practice session of the Italian Grand Prix, 14th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Friday in front of an Italian public all committed to the Ferrari cause. On the legendary Monza track bathed in sunshine, the Scuderia driver, who is celebrating his 29th birthday in Italy, beat the Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) and the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull).
Defending champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull), only took the 5th fastest time of the session, behind the McLaren of Australian Oscar Piastri, 4th, but ahead of the other Ferrari, that of Monegasque Charles Leclerc, 6th. But nothing to worry about for the Dutchman: in a fast lap, “Mad Max” simply fell victim to traffic on the track, losing precious time. Verstappen has the opportunity to claim a 10th straight F1 victory on Sunday, more than any other driver before him.
The Thai Alexander Albon, who has impressed since the start of the season at the wheel of his modest Williams, is 7th on the time sheet and therefore does better than the Aston Martin of the double Spanish world champion Fernando Alonso (8th) and the Briton George Russell, 9th with his Mercedes. The other Mercedes, that of Lewis Hamilton, is only 17th. This second of the three practice sessions scheduled for this weekend was marked by the exit from the track of Pérez who ended his journey in the gravel less than ten minutes before the end of the session. The incident caused a red flag for a few minutes.
Earlier in the session, Lance Stroll caused the first red flag of the day. Victim of a malfunction of the fuel system on his Aston Martin, the Canadian was forced to stop on the edge of the track. The time to evacuate his single-seater, the session was able to resume without incident a few minutes later. On Saturday, the drivers will take part in a third and final free practice session from 12:30 p.m. before qualifying from 4:00 p.m.
. 2nd free practice session:
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:21.355 (23 tours)
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:21.374 (20)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:21.540 (17)
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:21.545 (21)
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:21.631 (20)
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:21.716 (23)
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:21.979 (19)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:22.071 (16)
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:22.176 (20)
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:22.291 (19)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:22.574 (21)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari ) 1:22.595 (19)
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:22.651 (22)
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:22.696 (23)
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:22.716 (22)
Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:22.755 (24)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:22.783 (23)
Liam Lawson (NZL/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:23.167 (23rd)
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari ) 1:23.346 (20)
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 0.000 ( 2)
