George Russell sets fastest lap in second Italian Grand Prix practice
18 sources • 4 min read • Latest: Sep 5, 2026, 11:56 AM
Last updated Sep 5, 2026
George Russell led the second practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Thursday. The Mercedes driver clocked a best lap of 1:22.559, finishing ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and his own Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli. The session featured a mid-session shootout between the top three drivers while other teams navigated track conditions and car balance issues. Ferrari entered the weekend with an upgraded engine after recording the top two times in the first practice session earlier in the day. Max Verstappen finished ninth in his return to the track, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli prepares for a grid penalty this weekend due to engine changes. Final practice is scheduled for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. followed by qualifying at 3 p.m.
- •George Russell recorded a session-best lap of 1:22.559 at Monza.
- •Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli rounded out the top three in the second practice.
- •Max Verstappen placed ninth after missing the first practice session.
- •Final practice takes place Saturday morning prior to the qualifying session.
- •Kimi Antonelli will serve an engine-change grid penalty for Sunday's race.
- 11:50 AMFormula 1 — Russell goes fastest in busy final practice at Monza - Formula 1
- 11:47 AMAutosport — F1 Italian GP: Russell fastest from Hamilton and Verstappen in final practice
- 11:44 AMMotorsport.com — F1 Italian GP: George Russell leads Lewis Hamilton in FP3
- 11:36 AMcrash.net — George Russell sets pace as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen clash in final Monza F1 practice - Crash.net
- 11:29 AMYahoo Sports — Russell steals Ferrari’s thunder at Monza with FP3 benchmark
- 6:34 PMFormula 1 — Is Russell the driver to beat after Friday at Monza? - Formula 1
- 5:50 PMMotorsport.com — F1 Italian GP: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
- 5:00 PMESPN F1 — Russell goes quickest in second practice in Monza
"George Russell has topped second practice at Formula 1's Italian Grand Prix, nudging Ferrari's Charles Leclerc off the top of the timesheets. Russell set a 1m22.559s lap in the second half of the session as part of a mid-session shootout between the Briton, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Russell's Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who filled the top three. Following tepid laps on hard tyres ...Keep reading
"Mercedes driver George Russell beat Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton to top spot in Formula 1's third and final practice session at the Italian Grand Prix. Russell comfortably held off the seven-time world champion on a toasty Monza circuit, with Max Verstappen and championship leader Kimi Antonelli third and fourth. After a calm opening quarter of the session, the medium-tyre shod Alpines topped ...Keep reading
"Formula 1 heads into Saturday at Monza with George Russell fastest after second practice for the Italian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.120s in FP2, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli third as Mercedes and Ferrari traded blows at the front. Lando Norris, winner of the last two grands prix, was fourth for McLaren ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Oscar ...Keep reading
Sources
External links- Formula 1Sep 5, 2026, 11:50 AMRussell goes fastest in busy final practice at Monza - Formula 1
In an eventful final practice session at the Italian Grand Prix, Mercedes' George Russell set the pace ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari.
- AutosportSep 5, 2026, 11:47 AMF1 Italian GP: Russell fastest from Hamilton and Verstappen in final practice
Mercedes driver George Russell has beaten Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton to top spot in Formula 1's final practice session at the Italian Grand Prix. Russell comfortably held off the seven-time world champion on a toasty Monza circuit, with Max Verstappen and championship leader Kimi Antonelli third and fourth respectively. After a calm opening quarter of the session, the medium-tyre shod ...Keep reading
- Motorsport.comSep 5, 2026, 11:44 AMF1 Italian GP: George Russell leads Lewis Hamilton in FP3
Mercedes driver George Russell beat Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton to top spot in Formula 1's third and final practice session at the Italian Grand Prix. Russell comfortably held off the seven-time world champion on a toasty Monza circuit, with Max Verstappen and championship leader Kimi Antonelli third and fourth. After a calm opening quarter of the session, the medium-tyre shod Alpines topped ...Keep reading
- crash.netSep 5, 2026, 11:36 AMGeorge Russell sets pace as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen clash in final Monza F1 practice - Crash.net
Mercedes man George Russell led the way in final practice at F1’s Italian Grand Prix.
- Yahoo SportsSep 5, 2026, 11:29 AMRussell steals Ferrari’s thunder at Monza with FP3 benchmark
The third and final practice session at Monza has just come to an end, with George Russell boosting his hopes of pole position by setting the fastest time. Here is the full recap of FP3.
- Formula 1Sep 4, 2026, 6:34 PMIs Russell the driver to beat after Friday at Monza? - Formula 1
George Russell kicked off his Italian Grand Prix weekend on the front foot as the Mercedes driver set the pace in second practice, but Ferrari were lurking and could well spring a surprise this weekend...
- Motorsport.comSep 4, 2026, 5:50 PMF1 Italian GP: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1 heads into Saturday at Monza with George Russell fastest after second practice for the Italian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.120s in FP2, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli third as Mercedes and Ferrari traded blows at the front. Lando Norris, winner of the last two grands prix, was fourth for McLaren ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Oscar ...Keep reading
- ESPN F1Sep 4, 2026, 5:00 PMRussell goes quickest in second practice in Monza
George Russell landed a timely world championship boost by finishing fastest in practice for the Italian Grand Prix.
- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 3:18 PMRussell tops second practice for F1 Italian Grand Prix
George Russell of Mercedes was fastest in Friday's second practice for the Formula One Italian Grand Prix at the iconic Monza circuit. Russell clocked 1 minute 22.
- AutosportSep 4, 2026, 3:14 PMF1 Italian GP: Russell beats Leclerc to top second practice
George Russell has topped second practice at Formula 1's Italian Grand Prix, nudging Ferrari's Charles Leclerc off the top of the timesheets. Russell set a 1m22.559s lap in the second half of the session as part of a mid-session shootout between the Briton, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Russell's Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who filled the top three. Following tepid laps on hard ...Keep reading
- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 3:13 PMF1 Italian GP: George Russell outpaces Charles Leclerc in FP2
Mercedes man George Russell leads second practice for F1's Italian Grand Prix as Ferrari and Mercedes trade blows in Monza
- Motorsport.comSep 4, 2026, 3:13 PMF1 Italian GP: George Russell outpaces Charles Leclerc in FP2
George Russell has topped second practice at Formula 1's Italian Grand Prix, nudging Ferrari's Charles Leclerc off the top of the timesheets. Russell set a 1m22.559s lap in the second half of the session as part of a mid-session shootout between the Briton, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Russell's Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who filled the top three. Following tepid laps on hard tyres ...Keep reading
- Sky Sports—Russell tops Hamilton at Monza ahead of qualifying
George Russell established himself as pole position favourite ahead of Italian Grand Prix qualifying as the Mercedes driver topped Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in final practice.
- Formula1.com—Russell beats Leclerc and Antonelli to FP2 fastest time
George Russell finished fastest in Free Practice 2 ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc splitting the Mercedes drivers as Kimi Antonelli was third.
- Sky Sports—Russell tops second practice as Mercedes respond to Ferrari at Monza
George Russell beat Charles Leclerc to the fastest time of second practice at the Italian Grand Prix as Mercedes responded to Ferrari's early pace at Monza.
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