Monza Friday: Russell sets FP2 pace as Ferrari starts strongly

Friday at Monza gave Ferrari encouragement, but not the clean sweep a home crowd might have hoped for. The Race’s practice coverage points to a session-by-session picture in which Ferrari opened the day strongly in FP1, then remained firmly in the fight in FP2, even as George Russell put Mercedes at the front of the session with Charles Leclerc the nearest Ferrari challenger. That makes the early Italian Grand Prix story one of promise for the Scuderia, but not yet control.

That distinction matters at Monza more than at many other tracks. Practice here is not just about who posts the fastest lap, but about who looks efficient in low-drag trim, who can preserve speed down the straights, and who still has balance through the chicanes and braking zones. The Race’s FP1 report described Ferrari’s start as encouraging, which is exactly the kind of positive opening a home team wants. But Monza also has a habit of exposing cars that look good in one area and leave performance on the table elsewhere, so an encouraging first session is only a first step.

Russell’s FP2 benchmark was the clearest headline from Friday. The Race said he disappointed the Ferrari-supporting crowd by setting the pace, with Leclerc in second place behind him. That does not automatically mean Mercedes has the stronger race package, but it does show that Russell and the team found a lap-time window that mattered when the track was evolving. In a weekend where fine margins often decide qualifying positions, being quickest in FP2 is a meaningful sign that Mercedes can be a factor rather than just a bystander.

For Ferrari, the response is more nuanced. The team’s FP1 pace was enough to suggest a solid foundation, and Leclerc’s proximity to Russell in FP2 indicates that Ferrari was not far away when the second session sharpened the picture. Still, there is a difference between being competitive and being the reference, and Friday’s evidence suggests Ferrari remains in the chasing group rather than clearly in command of the weekend. That is especially relevant at Monza, where confidence in the setup can translate quickly into a strong qualifying lap, but uncertainty can just as easily cost time.