2026 Italian Grand Prix FP2: Russell Leads Leclerc and Antonelli at Monza
2026 Italian Grand Prix FP2 Results as Russell Leads at Monza
George Russell put Mercedes at the top of the timesheets in 2026 Italian Grand Prix FP2, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate Kimi Antonelli at Monza.
Russell produced a fastest lap of 1:22.559, beating Leclerc by 0.120 seconds, while Antonelli was only another 0.021 seconds behind in third. The closely matched session suggested that Mercedes and Ferrari could be set for a tight battle when qualifying arrives.
Russell Sets the Pace in 2026 Italian Grand Prix FP2
The session began with drivers using a mixture of medium and hard tyres, with Antonelli initially leading the timesheets.
The Mercedes driver posted a 1:23.417, with Russell and Leclerc also within just a few hundredths of a second. As the session progressed, the teams switched their focus towards qualifying simulations using the soft tyres.
Antonelli was among the first to make the switch and eventually recorded a 1:22.700. Russell then improved to 1:22.686, before Leclerc briefly moved to the top with a 1:22.679.
Russell responded immediately, setting the session-best 1:22.559, a time that remained unbeaten until the chequered flag.
Ferrari Remains Close Behind Mercedes
Leclerc finished second and continued Ferrari’s encouraging start to its home Grand Prix weekend.
The Monegasque driver had topped FP1, where Ferrari achieved a one-two with Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari’s upgraded engine package has therefore shown promising early pace at Monza, although Friday practice does not provide a complete picture of qualifying or race performance.
Hamilton finished fifth in FP2, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri occupied fourth and sixth respectively.
Top Six in 2026 Italian Grand Prix FP2
1. George Russell — Mercedes
Time: 1:22.559
2. Charles Leclerc — Ferrari
Gap: +0.120s
3. Kimi Antonelli — Mercedes
Gap: +0.141s
4. Lando Norris — McLaren
Gap: +0.384s
5. Lewis Hamilton — Ferrari
Gap: +0.457s
6. Oscar Piastri — McLaren
Gap: +0.469s
Antonelli Impresses Despite Grid Penalty
Antonelli’s third-place finish was particularly significant given his situation heading into the weekend.
The championship leader will start the Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Mercedes took an engine change that resulted in a penalty.
Despite that setback, Antonelli remained extremely competitive in FP2 and ended just 0.141 seconds away from Russell. His pace could also prove valuable to Mercedes during qualifying, even though his own starting position is already compromised.
Verstappen Struggles at Monza
It was a difficult session for reigning Italian Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull driver complained about a lack of downforce early in FP2 and returned to the pits while the team worked on the car, including a front-wing change.
Verstappen eventually finished ninth, 0.818 seconds behind Russell. Red Bull also faced concerns over grip, braking and the behaviour of the car, leaving the team with significant work to do before qualifying.
Bearman Impresses as Haas Upgrade Shows Promise
One of the notable performances further down the order came from Ollie Bearman, who finished eighth for Haas.
Bearman was using Haas’s major 2026 upgrade package along with a Ferrari engine and ended the session only 0.811 seconds off Russell’s benchmark.
The result provided encouragement for Haas after a difficult run of races. The team will now look to carry that pace into qualifying and Sunday’s race.
What 2026 Italian Grand Prix FP2 Means
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix FP2 result gives Mercedes an early advantage, but the margins remain extremely small.
Russell leads Leclerc by just 0.120 seconds, while Antonelli is only 0.141 seconds off the pace. McLaren is also within half a second, meaning the front of the field remains tightly packed.
Ferrari will take confidence from Leclerc’s pace and its FP1 one-two, while Mercedes can be encouraged by Russell’s response in the second session.
With Monza’s long straights making qualifying position, slipstreaming and straight-line speed particularly important, Saturday’s qualifying session promises to be another close contest.
Full FP2 Results
The complete 2026 Italian Grand Prix FP2 order was:
George Russell — Mercedes — 1:22.559
Charles Leclerc — Ferrari — +0.120s
Kimi Antonelli — Mercedes — +0.141s
Lando Norris — McLaren — +0.384s
Lewis Hamilton — Ferrari — +0.457s
Oscar Piastri — McLaren — +0.469s
Arvid Lindblad — Racing Bulls — +0.790s
Ollie Bearman — Haas — +0.811s
Max Verstappen — Red Bull — +0.818s
Yuki Tsunoda — Racing Bulls — +0.896s
The battle for pole at Monza is now set up, with Russell entering qualifying as the driver to beat after Friday’s second practice session.
