Second Free Practice Report & Results 2024 Italian F1 Grand Prix
Event: Italian Grand Prix
Track: Monza Circuit
Weather: dry 34.1°C
Tarmac: dry 47.3°C
Humidity : 32%
Wind : 1.0 km/h South
Hamilton Edges Out Norris in Thrilling FP2 at Monza
Lewis Hamilton delivered a strong performance in the second practice session (FP2) of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, clocking the fastest time of the session at Monza. The seven-time world champion set a time of 1:20.738, narrowly beating McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere 0.003 seconds. Carlos Sainz secured the third spot for Ferrari, just 0.103 seconds off Hamilton's pace.
This session marks a positive turnaround for Mercedes, especially after Max Verstappen topped the opening practice session for Red Bull earlier in the day. However, Verstappen's FP2 run was compromised by red flags, preventing him from setting a fully representative lap time.
Red Flags Disrupt Running as Magnussen Crashes
FP2 was not without drama, as the session was interrupted by a red flag following a crash by Kevin Magnussen. The Danish driver lost control of his Haas at the second Lesmo, resulting in a heavy impact with the barriers. Fortunately, Magnussen walked away unscathed, but the incident severely limited his track time, leaving him on the back foot heading into Saturday.
The red flag also disrupted many drivers' qualifying simulation runs, with Verstappen among those affected. The Dutch driver had a lock-up earlier in the session, which he attributed to struggles with his front-left tire. He was later noted by the race stewards for re-entering the track incorrectly after his off-track excursion.
Mercedes’ Hot Seat Issue Raises Concerns
Both Mercedes drivers reported discomfort during the session, complaining about unusually hot seats. This issue could be linked to excessive plank wear, which might be transferring thermal energy upwards, suggesting that Mercedes could be running their cars exceptionally low to the ground. With the high temperatures forecasted for the weekend, resolving this issue will be crucial for the Silver Arrows.
Mixed Fortunes for McLaren and Ferrari
McLaren continued to show strong form, with Norris nearly topping the timesheets and Oscar Piastri also showing competitive pace. Ferrari, racing at their home Grand Prix, also looked solid with Leclerc and Sainz in the mix. The Scuderia has introduced several upgrades this weekend, and the initial signs are promising as they aim to impress their home crowd.
Halfway Order
The halfway order during this second practice just before the Red Flag caused by the crash of Kevin Magnussen.with the Haas was:
- Lewis Hamilton - 1.20.738 min. (S)
- Lando Norris +0.003 sec. (S)
- Carlos Sainz +0.103 sec. (S)
- Oscar Piastri +0.120 sec. (S)
- Charles Leclerc +0.154 sec. (S)
- Nico Hulkenberg +0.402 sec. (S)
- Daniel Ricciardo +0.562 sec. (S)
- Fernando Alonso +0.578 sec. (S)
- Lance Stroll +0.625 sec. (S)
- Valtteri Bottas +0.723 sec. (S)
Russell’s Recovery After FP1 Crash
George Russell's session was dedicated to making up for lost time after his car needed repairs following Kimi Antonelli's crash in FP1. Despite the setback, Russell managed to post a competitive time late in the session, though he had to navigate through traffic, preventing him from setting a fully representative lap.
Red Bull and Williams Show Strength on the Straights
Both Red Bull and Williams demonstrated impressive straight-line speed during FP2, which could be a significant advantage during the race. However, the challenge for both teams will be maintaining that pace through Monza’s technical sections.
Looking Ahead to FP3 and Qualifying
As the first day of running concludes, the pecking order remains unclear, with Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull all showing flashes of speed. With the potential for an eight-way fight for pole position, Saturday’s qualifying session promises to be an electrifying showdown.
The teams will return for FP3 at 12:30 local time (10:30 UTC) tomorrow, where the final preparations for qualifying will take place. Stay tuned for more updates from Monza as the 2024 Italian Grand Prix weekend continues to unfold.
The quickest lap time of last year's FP2 was a 1:21.355 min, set by Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari SF-23 on soft tyres.
FP2 Times Table 2024 Italian GP
| P | No | Driver | Team | Time | 1st Gap | Laps | Tyres |
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:20,738 | 24 | S | |
| 2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:20,741 | +0,003s | 23 | S |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:20,841 | +0,103s | 27 | S |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:20,858 | +0,120s | 24 | S |
| 5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:20,892 | +0,154s | 26 | S |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:21,086 | +0,348s | 20 | S |
| 7 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas | 1:21,140 | +0,402s | 25 | S |
| 8 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Racing Bulls | 1:21,300 | +0,562s | 23 | S |
| 9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:21,316 | +0,578s | 24 | S |
| 10 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:21,363 | +0,625s | 27 | S |
| 11 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 1:21,461 | +0,723s | 25 | S |
| 12 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1:21,499 | +0,761s | 11 | S |
| 13 | 23 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:21,592 | +0,854s | 25 | S |
| 14 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:21,610 | +0,872s | 24 | M |
| 15 | 11 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | 1:21,678 | +0,940s | 14 | S |
| 16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1:21,735 | +0,997s | 20 | S |
| 17 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Williams | 1:21,784 | +1,046s | 20 | S |
| 18 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:21,819 | +1,081s | 23 | M |
| 19 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:21,867 | +1,129s | 22 | S |
| 20 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 1:22,223 | +1,485s | 27 | S |
✅ Don't forget to check out our 2024 Italian F1 Grand Prix preview info.
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
