Lando Norris Tops 2025 Italian GP FP2 in Monza, Sainz Impresses for Williams

Lando Norris secured the fastest time in Free Practice 2 (FP2) for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, leading a session marked by several incidents and investigations.

Why it matters:

After Ferrari's strong start in FP1, Norris's performance puts McLaren firmly in contention, while Carlos Sainz's impressive third place for Williams highlights their potential in the 2025 season. This session offered an early glimpse into the competitive landscape and potential team dynamics for next year.

The details:

• McLaren's mirror troubles: Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris encountered mirror issues, with Piastri reporting a crack and Norris losing his entirely.
• Early red flag: Kimi Antonelli's session ended prematurely after he beached his Mercedes in the gravel, prompting a red flag within the first 10 minutes.
• Investigations: Piastri and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto are under investigation for yellow flag infringements following Antonelli's incident.
• Driver struggles: Max Verstappen reported his Red Bull becoming increasingly unstable. Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), and Piastri all took trips through the gravel or over kerbs, prompting floor checks from their teams.

FP2 Top 10 Results:

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:19.878
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.083s
3. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.096s
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.181s
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.192s
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – +0.199s
7. Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.301s
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – +0.363s
9. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing) – +0.391s
10. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.398s

What's next:

Teams will analyze the data from FP2 to fine-tune their setups for Free Practice 3 and the crucial Qualifying session, which will determine the starting grid for Sunday's Grand Prix.