George Russell set the pace in the second practice session at the Italian Grand Prix, edging Charles Leclerc and Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli on Friday at Monza.
After Ferrari had dominated the first part of the day, Russell delivered the quickest lap of the afternoon session for Mercedes. Leclerc finished second, while Antonelli completed the top three on home soil. Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five, with Max Verstappen only ninth.
The source provided no times, but it did note that the final free practice session is scheduled for Saturday at 12:30, before qualifying at 15:55, with both sessions to be shown live on RTBF media.
Russell’s performance gave Mercedes a lift after Ferrari had looked strong earlier in the day, but the afternoon order suggests the field remains tightly packed heading into the decisive sessions. Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull were all represented near the front, with little to separate the main contenders over a single lap.
Monza, one of Formula 1’s most historic circuits, is traditionally a key stop in the championship calendar, and Saturday’s qualifying session will set the grid for Sunday’s race. No standings, championship implications or further race context were supplied in the source.