If we had to use a color to describe the day in Monza, well, that would be yellow. A yellow that tastes red, however, like the F1-75 that with Carlos Sainz snatches the best performance in the second free practice session, after the one-two placed with teammate Leclerc during the FP1. The Spaniard concludes FP2 ahead of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
FP2: Ferrari is there, even if…
If this classification were to be in qualifying tomorrow, it would be Charles who would start in front of everyone Leclerc. In fact, during FP1, it arrived the official that both Sainz and Verstappen will receive penalties on the starting grid. In particular, Verstappen will receive five penalty positions for the change of the ICE, while Sainz will start from the bottom for having mounted the new power unit. Analyzing today however, we can say that Ferrari seems to be back more competitive than what we saw at Zandvoort, and above all at Spa two weeks ago. On the race pace however, although that of the two Ferraristi is not bad, Verstappen seems to be unstoppable.
Classic Friday
To be reviewed instead on Friday for the Mercedes. Brackley team, as always, never manages to convince during free practice, but then manages to achieve great results in the race. At the Temple of Speed, for now, Russell closes in fifth position, while Hamilton in seventh. Even Lewis, who complained so much about the car today, will start from the bottom on Sunday for fitting the fourth power unit. With him, also Sergio Perez only sixth today.
Norris tries, but the Alpine is constant
In home McLaren instead it continues to be only Norris the sole dragger. The English driver finishes in fourth place in the standings, well ahead of his teammate Ricciardo eleventh. Over the last few hours, the rumor had spread in the paddock that Piastri could already replace Ricciardo during this season, even if this rumor does not seem to find confirmation, despite the Australian driver's bad period there for all to see. It takes a big Norris to try and catch up the Alpine, once again in the top ten. Ocon in fact snatches the eighth position, while Alonso closes in ninth, still showing the great consistency of the French team.
Tough day for Aston
A day to forget instead for the two riders of Aston Martin in seventeenth and eighteenth position with Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll. After the excellent race of the Canadian in Netherlands, the Silverstone team seems to suffer a lot from the characteristics of the track. Tomorrow will be a fundamental day to understand if the green can continue on the good performance of the last few weeks.
Not bad the Alfa; problems for Haas
In the middle of the group however, good Alfa Romeo with Zhou twelfth and Bottas thirteenth. Recalling that, together with tsunoda, the Finn will also serve penalties on Sunday's starting grid. On the bottom Nicholas Latifi's Williams and Mick Schumacher's Haas who had to stop due to a problem with his VF22.
Qualifying tomorrow
This concludes the Friday of free practice in Monza. Appointment at future, with FP3 at 13.00, and qualification at 16.00.
FP2, the standings
1 Carlos Sainz
2 Max Verstappen
3 Charles Leclerc
4 Lando Norris
5George Russell
6 Sergio Perez
7 Lewis Hamilton
8 Esteban Ocon
9Fernando Alonso
10 Alexander Albon
11 Daniel Ricciardo
12 Guanyu Zhou
13 Valtteri Bottas
14 Pierre Gasly
15 Yuki Tsunoda
16Kevin Magnussen
17Sebastian Vettel
18 Lance Stroll
19 Nicholas Latifi
20 Mick Schumacher
