Lewis Hamilton tops timesheets in second practice at Italian Grand Prix, ahead of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz; George Russell drives car crashed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli earlier in day - Practice Three live on Sky Sports F1 from 11.30am, Saturday; Qualifying at 3pm
Friday 30 August 2024 18:30, UK
Lewis Hamilton set the pace in second practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix with Mercedes team-mate George Russell getting out on track in a car crashed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli earlier in the day.
Hamilton clocked a time of 1:20.738 to finish ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris - the gap between the Brits just three thousandths of a second - and Carlos Sainz in the upgraded Ferrari, with Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc rounding out the top five in a session temporarily halted when Haas' Kevin Magnussen hit a barrier.
Hamilton and Leclerc were separated by just a tenth and a half.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen led the way in the opening practice session, ahead of Leclerc and his nearest rival in the drivers' standings, Norris, but the Dutchman and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez were down in 14th and 15th respectively in FP2 after neither completed a proper qualifying simulation.
Norris trimmed Verstappen's lead in the championship to 70 points last Sunday when he won the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort by over 20 seconds from the Red Bull driver.
Russell's entry into FP2 was delayed as Mercedes continued to work on his car following F1 debutant Antonelli, 18, damaging it heavily during first practice after he collided with a wall.
Antonelli is poised to partner Russell next season following Hamilton's switch to Ferrari, with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff saying the youngster's crash in Italy would have "zero effect" on who they select as the second Silver Arrows driver for 2025.
Russell left the garage 26 minutes into the session and prioritised race prep over pace, although he did finish sixth after a late run on the soft tyres, while both he and Hamilton complained of hot seats in their Mercedes during a searing day in Lombardy.
Haas' Nico Hulkenberg, RB's Daniel Ricciardo and Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll completed the top 10.
Williams' Franco Colapinto continued his debut day in F1 after replacing the axed Logan Sargeant for the final nine grands prix of this season, stepping in before Sainz becomes Alex Albon's permanent partner from 2025 onwards.
The Argentine locked up early in second practice after slipping into the gravel late in practice one but drove well in the main and was not dramatically outpaced by Albon.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton:
"It's been a good day. The car felt good from the start. But, going through P1, there was a lot of graining. Then we made some good changes and the car felt even better in P2
"There is still some work to do in a few areas, ultimately on the long run, so we can go the distance. That's the challenge at the moment.
"It's going to be important the work we do tonight and back in the factory on the simulator, to tread carefully with set-up so we don't put the car too out of bed like we have done in the past."
Red Bull's Max Verstappen:
"I tried a few things today. FP1 actually felt quite decent. FP2 maybe not as much at the beginning, but felt a bit better on the long run, so we just need to bring it altogether.
"I think we have quite a few directions to take with the car. We just need to tidy it up a bit. I think it will be quite close between a lot of cars, so hopefully we can be in that mix."
McLaren's Lando Norris:
"I struggled a bit today, probably more in FP1 with the low grip. I think everyone will say a similar thing. The track improved for FP2 but I probably didn't progress as I needed to.
"The car was quick. Oscar [Piastri] was very quick but made a big mistake and probably lost four or five tenths. He should easily have been P1 but I was a long way off, so a bit of work for me to do.
"I think it's close between Ferrari, us, Red Bull and Mercedes. I think eight cars all look fast so it should make it exciting tomorrow."
Saturday August 31
8.25am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Italian GP Practice Three (session starts 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Italian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: ITALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday September 1
7:30am: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Porsche Supercup
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: The ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted's Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
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