Lewis Hamilton demonstrated exceptional skill during the second practice session for the 2024 Italian GP, narrowly edging out Lando Norris by just 0.003 seconds.
The second practice for the Italian GP at Monza was marked by a mix of impressive performances, unexpected crashes, and strategic tire management, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying round.
Lewis Hamilton narrowly edged out Lando Norris to top the timesheets in a captivating second practice session for the 2024 Italian GP at Monza. The seven-time world champion posted a blistering 1:20.738 on the soft compound tyres to pip the McLaren driver by just 0.003 seconds before the session was briefly interrupted due to a crash involving Kevin Magnussen.
The session commenced under the watchful eyes of fans, with the atmosphere electric as teams rolled out onto the track. Most drivers opted for medium tires initially, aiming to establish a baseline for their performance.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc quickly made headlines by clocking a competitive lap time of 1:21.119, putting him at the top of the timesheets early in the session. His teammate, Carlos Sainz, followed closely, demonstrating the strength of Ferrari’s home advantage as the Tifosi cheered from the grandstands.
However, the focus quickly shifted to qualifying simulations as teams began to explore the performance of the soft tires on the newly resurfaced Monza track.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri initially took the lead with a blistering lap of 1:20.858, showcasing the team’s impressive speed. Norris then pushed the boundaries further, setting a time of 1:20.851, which placed him at the top momentarily.
However, the session took a dramatic turn when Kevin Magnussen crashed his Haas car at the second Lesmo, bringing out the red flags and halting the action for over ten minutes.
Fortunately, Magnussen emerged unscathed from the incident, but his crash would ultimately impact his team’s preparations for the rest of the weekend.
As the session resumed, attention shifted to the qualifying simulations. Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, initially took the lead with a blistering lap of 1:20.851.
However, Hamilton was not to be outdone. In a spectacular display of speed and precision, he clocked a time of 1:20.738 just moments later, securing the top spot on the timesheets. His performance was particularly impressive given that he had reported discomfort from a hot seat during his run, yet he managed to push through and deliver a stellar lap.
The session concluded with Hamilton’s time holding firm, with Norris finishing a mere three thousandths of a second behind. Carlos Sainz rounded out the top three with a time of 1:20.841, while Oscar Piastri placed fourth with a time of 1:20.858.
Charles Leclerc, who had earlier set the pace, dropped to fifth with a time of 1:21.119, showcasing the competitive nature of the session where the top five drivers were separated by less than a second.
It was a disappointing session for the championship leader Max Verstappen, who could only manage 14th place after aborting his qualifying simulation lap due to a snap of oversteer at the Parabolica. The Dutchman reported a lack of grip and ran wide at the final corner, hampering his chances of setting a competitive time.
Meanwhile George Russell finished sixth after missing out on opening practice after his drive was handed to Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Nico Hulkenberg, driving for Haas, had a solid outing, finishing seventh with a time of 1:21.001. His performance was particularly noteworthy given the struggles of his teammate Magnussen, who crashed and was unable to set a competitive time.
Daniel Ricciardo, running the older-spec RB package, secured eighth place, demonstrating that he still has the pace to compete at a high level. His experience will be crucial as the team navigates the complexities of the Monza circuit.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, both driving for Aston Martin, rounded out the top ten.
