George Russell leads Mercedes in Friday practice at the Italian Grand Prix

George Russell set the fastest time during Friday practice for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Driving for Mercedes, Russell clocked a 1:22.559 in the second session to finish at the top of the leaderboard. Teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli followed in third as the team focused on both single-lap pace and race simulations. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second, despite a late spin during his session. Mercedes split their focus between the two drivers, with Antonelli prioritizing race preparation due to an upcoming power unit penalty. Teams now analyze data collected throughout the day to prepare for Saturday's qualifying session.