Teams Reveal Insights and Reactions From Friday’s Italy Event

Mercedes sets Friday’s benchmark at Monza, with George Russell fastest in FP2. Ferrari shadows closely, McLaren’s novel rear wing shows promise, and Red Bull chases balance after a scrappy day.

Kimi Antonelli backs Russell with third, prioritising long runs. He accepts a back-of-grid start through a power unit penalty, refocusing practice on race execution and tyre behaviour.

Russell calls the field tight and expects Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull to contend, as the Italian GP FP2 report underlines. Mercedes targets braking stability and Monza‑specific straightline efficiency.

Ferrari starts strongly. Charles Leclerc tops FP1 and ends FP2 second despite a late spin, suggesting a competitive balance once the rear remains planted through Ascari and Parabolica.

Lewis Hamilton runs close to Russell but struggles to stitch a clean lap. Ferrari and Mercedes both chase small balance gains overnight to lock in qualifying rotation and tow strategy.

McLaren’s reversed rear‑wing concept attracts attention and delivers speed. Lando Norris places fourth in FP2, while Oscar Piastri lags, prioritising correlation and tyre usage over headline laps.

Norris concedes time in key corners and seeks a calmer rear under braking. The team expects gains from small ride‑height and diff tweaks as track grip improves.

Red Bull’s day is uneven. Ayumu Iwasa handles FP1 for aero mapping before Max Verstappen returns for FP2, battling front‑rear balance and finishing only ninth.

Liam Lawson sits outside the top 10. The team faces overnight setup swings on ride, diff and wing level to recover single‑lap and long‑run pace.

Racing Bulls log a constructive day. Yuki Tsunoda improves tyre management through runs, and rookie Arvid Lindblad shows competitive speed. Q3 remains a realistic Saturday target.

Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto impresses early but stops late in FP2 with a suspected power unit issue. Nico Hulkenberg is steady yet needs a step to attack the fringes of Q3.

Alpine’s upgrade shows glimpses. Franco Colapinto runs the full package and makes FP1’s top 10. Pierre Gasly’s FP2 lacks the final tenth, while Paul Aron adds useful correlation data.

Esteban Ocon struggles for consistency through braking zones and traction. Alpine targets stability and traction maps to convert promise into qualifying execution.

[p]Haas gains encouragement from upgrades. Oliver Bearman delivers eighth in FP2, comfortably the team’s best day for months and a welcome indicator the package scales to low drag.[/p]

Williams focuses on systems and tyres. Alex Albon returns for FP2, yet neither car escapes the lower midfield. Hot track temperatures complicate grip and degradation analysis.

Aston Martin endures a messy day. Fernando Alonso’s running is hampered by an electrical issue, and Lance Stroll lacks pace, prompting a deep setup review overnight.

Cadillac’s programme is mixed. Colton Herta stops early in FP1 with hydraulics trouble after a frantic schedule. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez bank steady laps and data.

With margins tiny, qualifying should be finely poised, with slipstreams decisive. For wider context on the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, see our Italian Grand Prix build‑up.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.