George Russell Leads Second Practice at Monza

The second practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza unfolded in hot and largely uneventful weather, with track temperatures reaching 55°C. Under clear skies and with no rain expected throughout the weekend, teams concentrated on tyre performance, degradation and energy management at Formula 1’s fastest low-downforce venue.The demanding conditions caught several drivers out, particularly under braking. A number of lap times were deleted for exceeding track limits, while Lance Stroll came under scrutiny for impeding Lando Norris during a fast lap. Charles Leclerc also had a moment at the exit of the second chicane, spinning before continuing, while Gabriel Bortoleto was forced to retire from the session early after a power unit issue.Leclerc ultimately topped the timesheets with a 1:23.008, edging George Russell, who posted a 1:23.002. The session also provided valuable running for several young drivers, with Ayumu Iwasa taking Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, Colton Herta stepping into Sergio Perez’s Cadillac, Luke Browning replacing Alex Albon at Williams and Paul Aron taking Pierre Gasly’s seat at Alpine.The session was interrupted by red flags after Herta was instructed to stop his Cadillac on track with a hydraulic problem. Running resumed six minutes later, with drivers switching to the Medium and Soft compounds. The softer rubber delivered greater grip and allowed the field to make a significant step forward in pace as the session entered its final stages.