George Russell Tops Final Practice at Italian Grand Prix

The performance establishes Russell as the clear favourite for pole position ahead of qualifying, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli serves back-of-the-grid engine penalties.

George Russell Sets the Pace at Monza

George Russell laid down a marker for the rest of the Formula 1 field by leading the final practice session ahead of Italian Grand Prix qualifying. The Mercedes driver clocked a 1:22.219 on his final flying lap around the high-speed Monza circuit, putting him three tenths clear of Friday’s benchmark.

The quick lap came without assistance from team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Mercedes and Russell spent part of the session practicing the tows that are expected to influence the battle for pole position, though the Briton ultimately found his pace independently. Russell finished 0.226 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, establishing what appears to be a narrow edge over the home team.

Late-Session Drama Involves Hamilton and Verstappen

Tensions flared in the closing moments of the hour-long session when Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen nearly collided at the first corner during a scrap for track position.

Hamilton slipped past Verstappen as the pair approached the final corner to start their final flying laps. The maneuver drew an immediate reaction from the Dutchman, who attempted to race the Ferrari across the start-finish line before diving up the inside of the Alboreto corner. Hamilton took to the escape road to avoid an impact, averting a repeat of the pair’s collision at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

Verstappen gave Hamilton a thumbs-up across the line to signal a compromised lap and subsequently ran deep into the opening chicane. The stewards noted the incident but determined that a formal investigation was unnecessary. Verstappen still managed the third-fastest time of the session, finishing 0.350 seconds off Russell’s pace as Red Bull’s single-lap performance showed improvement over Friday.

Tactical Grid Realities for Mercedes and Ferrari

The competitive order at the front is shaped by contrasting team strategies and championship standings. Kimi Antonelli enters the weekend holding a 59-point lead over both Russell and Hamilton at the top of the drivers’ standings, with McLaren’s Lando Norris sitting 83 points back after victories in the past two races. However, Antonelli will start Sunday’s grand prix from the back of the grid due to penalties incurred for taking new engine parts.

George Russell Tops Final Practice at Italian Grand Prix — Photo: Sky Sports

That penalty leaves Russell to shoulder Mercedes’ hopes of claiming pole position.

“George will be very pleased with himself. This is such a psychological sport and with a team-mate leading the championship he does need to switch that momentum.”

Naomi Schiff, Sky Sports F1

Ferrari arrived at Monza with its second engine upgrade of the season, which appears to have reduced the team’s straight-line speed deficit to Mercedes. Even so, the Italian squad will need to find something extra to claim what would be an extremely popular pole at their home race.

Midfield Scramble and Setup Struggles Down the Grid

Behind the leading teams, Lando Norris took fifth for the best of the McLarens, while his team-mate Oscar Piastri set the fastest first sector of all on his final attempt before ending the lap more than half a second down in eighth-fastest. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed sixth in the second Ferrari, slotting in ahead of Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who for a while at the end of the session held the fastest final sector courtesy of a huge tow from the Audi of Nico Hulkenberg.

FP2 Highlights | 2026 Italian Grand Prix

Alpine secured the final two spots in the top 10, with Pierre Gasly finishing ahead of team-mate Franco Colapinto. Liam Lawson had a difficult start to Saturday in the second Red Bull, looping his RB22 as he got on the power and the kerb through the first chicane to finish 12th.