Source – Autosports
Before the Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton dominated the time sheets in a very close second practice session. Kevin Magnussen’s crash briefly stopped the session, putting the top five cars within a tenth and a half of each other.
The second practice session at Monza for the 2024 Italian Grand Prix unfolded with intensity as the teams and drivers battled for supremacy on the high-speed circuit. The session kicked off at 17:00 local time, but George Russell was notably absent from the early action as the Mercedes team worked frantically to repair his car after Kimi Antonelli’s crash during FP1. While most of the drivers opted for medium compound tires in their initial laps, Daniel Ricciardo took a different approach, running on the softs. Charles Leclerc quickly set the pace, delighting the Tifosi with a lap of 1m 21.119s, edging out his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz by just 0.145s.
As the session progressed, focus shifted to qualifying simulations. Lando Norris briefly surged to the top of the timesheets, only to be eclipsed by Lewis Hamilton, who clocked a blistering lap of 1m 20.738s, despite complaining of an overheating seat.
However, the session’s momentum was abruptly halted when Kevin Magnussen lost control at the second Lesmo, crashing his Haas into the barriers and bringing out the red flags. Fortunately, Magnussen emerged unscathed, but the incident added to Haas’s woes, as they had already been fined for impeding in FP1.
Following a 12-minute pause, the session resumed with drivers eager to capitalize on the remaining track time. The pit lane became a hive of activity, as cars lined up to rejoin the action. Sergio Perez, who had undergone a precautionary gearbox change between sessions, found himself running out of sync, struggling to complete a hot lap amidst heavy traffic.
As the session drew to a close, long runs became the focus for most teams. Hamilton’s earlier fast lap remained unbeaten, securing him the top spot on the timesheets. Norris continued his strong form, finishing a close second, while Sainz rounded out the top three. Oscar Piastri impressed by securing fourth place in the second McLaren, while Leclerc, despite his early pace, ended the session in fifth, just 0.154s off Hamilton’s time.
Russell, finally joining the fray in the final minutes, managed to slot into sixth, salvaging what could have been a challenging day for Mercedes. Nico Hulkenberg provided a glimmer of hope for Haas with a solid seventh-place finish, ahead of Ricciardo in eighth for Red Bull. The Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll completed the top ten, showcasing their consistency.
Valtteri Bottas continued to impress for Kick Sauber, securing 11th place, while Magnussen, despite his earlier crash, managed to finish 12th. Alex Albon took 13th for Williams, while Max Verstappen had an unusually subdued session, finishing 14th, just ahead of his teammate Perez in 15th. Yuki Tsunoda placed 16th for Red Bull, with Franco Colapinto, making his full-day debut for Williams, in 17th.
The Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, struggled to find pace, finishing 18th and 19th respectively, with Zhou Guanyu bringing up the rear for Kick Sauber in 20th.
As the sun set over Monza, teams retreated to their garages to analyze the data, preparing for the final practice session and the all-important qualifying on Saturday. With the competition fierce and the margins razor-thin, the stage is set for an electrifying weekend at the Temple of Speed.
