Welcome to Total-Motorsport.com’s 2024 Italian GP Free Practice 2 live blog as the Formula 1 circus arrives at Monza, one of the most iconic circuits on the calendar this weekend.
Known as the “Temple of Speed,” Monza‘s layout is defined by its long straights and challenging chicanes, making it the fastest track in F1. With its mix of flat-out sections and technical corners, Monza offers a unique challenge that often delivers thrilling races and unexpected results.
First opened in 1922, Monza has hosted the Italian GP almost every year since the inception of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1950, cementing its place as a cornerstone of the sport. The Italian GP is not just another race; it is a celebration of speed, history, and the passionate Tifosi
As the 2024 Italian GP continues with the second practice session, Max Verstappen is the driver to beat after he topped the timesheet in FP1 ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. So stay tuned to our Italian GP Free Practice 2 live blog for minute-by-minute coverage of all the action, including lap times, incidents, and key developments as they happen.
2024 Italian GP FP2 LIVE – Latest News and Updates
Follow along for all the news and latest updates from Monza as Free Practice 2 at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix gets underway.
FP2 ends: Hamilton fastest as Magnussen crashes
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes bounced back from a disappointing FP1 where they seemed to lack pace and whilst Kimi Antontelli crashed to top FP2 on Friday afternoon with a 1:20.738 narrowly ahead of Lando Norris’ McLaren in Monza.
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Kevin Magnussen brought out the red flag when he crashed at Lesmo 2 but it seems as though it will be a tight weekend between Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull at the 2024 Italian GP.
Mercedes seat too hot to handle?
Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell complained their seat is too hot throughout FP2 so Mercedes have a job to fix that overnight.
It could be a problem through 53 laps of the Grand Prix if they can’t.
Five minutes to go: Drivers still pushing
Time is running out for Friday running but the drivers haven’t given up yet as they keep testing the limits of the track.
Sergio Perez locks up into Turn 1 and has to skip across the escape road, as does Fernando Alonso down at Turn 4.
10 minutes to go: Tight field at the top of the board
Just one tenth and a half separates Lewis Hamilton from Charles Leclerc over one lap whilst Oscar Piastri’s 1:24.7 long run is three tenths quicker than the fifth-fastest in Max Verstappen at the moment.
It means this could be a very, very tight qualifying and Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
15 minutes to go: Hamilton still on top
The drivers have mostly switched back to medium tyres for some final long run data ahead of FP3 on Saturday so Lewis Hamilton still leads the times at the top of the FP2 board with a 1:20.738 ahead of Lando Norris by 0.003.
Then comes Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc in the Top 5.
Green flag: Session resumes with 18 minutes to go
That brief red flag for Kevin Magnussen’s crash ends and FP2 gets underway again with George Russell second in the queue at the end of the pit-lane.
A red flag was the last thing he needed after already missing FP1 and 20 minutes of FP2.
RED FLAG: 29 minutes to go: Magnussen crashes
Kevin Magnussen crashes in Lesmo 2 after his Haas car slid from out under him, leaving him to go spinning through the gravel before hitting the wall front-on.
The only saving grace is the frontal impact will be better for his gearbox but a red flag is thrown and his afternoon is over.
31 minutes to go: Verstappen with a big snap
Max Verstappen has a huge snap of oversteer on the entry to the parabolica and has to abort his push-lap before it even begins.
Have Red Bull failed to fix their car problems?
33 minutes to go: Hamilton on top in FP2
Lewis Hamilton now goes to the top of the timing boards in FP2 on the soft tyre with a 1:20.738 as the times begin to tumble in Monza, beating Lando Norris by 0.003 and Carlos Sainz by 0.103.
Then comes Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas in the Top 10.
Max Verstappen’s in 13th and Sergio Perez is in 14th.
35 minutes to go: Russell reports an issue on the Mercedes
George Russell reports something moving around his feet in his Mercedes as he gets his F1 Italian GP weekend underway.
The Brit speculates it could be a nut left over by one of the mechanics as they tried to fix his car following Kimi Antonelli’s FP1 crash.
38 minutes to go: Russell and Perez enter FP2
George Russell finally drives out of his garage in FP2 and so does Sergio Perez after having a gearbox change on his Red Bull.
They can get in some crucial minutes throughout the remainder of the session after losing a lot of running time compared to their rivals.
40 minutes to go: Soft tyres on as Norris goes to the top
Lando Norris is back at the top of the timing boards with a 1:20.851 to beat Oscar Piastri by 0.007 as both McLarens decide to the run the soft tyre and jump ahead of the Ferraris on the mediums.
Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll and Daniel Ricciardo are all also on the softs.
45 minutes to go: Ferrari prance into a gallop
Ferrari now hold a 1-2 that will look absolutely beautiful to the gathered Tifosi at the 2024 Italian GP as Charles Leclerc leads Carlos Sainz by 0.245 with a 1:21.119 in Monza.
Lando Norris slots into third, ahead of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri whilst there is currently no sign of Sergio Perez with work going on his Red Bull car.
48 minutes to go: Russell still not on track
Having already sat out FP1, George Russell has had no running at the 2024 Italian GP which could really harm his chances throughout the rest of the weekend following Kimi Antonelli’s crash.
Even worse, that crash happened after just 10 minutes so Car 63 has only had 10 minutes of development from the simulation guesswork throughout the entire weekend.
50 minutes to go: McLaren 1-3 at the top of the times
Lando Norris leads Lewis Hamilton with a 1:21.605 to beat his British rival by 0.036 with Oscar Piastri slotting into third place.
Kevin Magnussen gets it all wrong into Turn 1 and skips across the new gravel trap there before Franco Colapinto has a big lock-up into the same corner.
These are the lowest levels of downforce the cars will run all year.
54 minutes to go: Stroll dawdling into Turn 1
Lance Stroll upsets both Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas by going very slowly on the apex of Turn 1, forcing the Sauber to lock-up to avoid a multi-car crash.
Kevin Magnussen was fined seven thousand Euros for impeding in FP1 and it could be a similar punishment for the Aston Martin in FP2 too.
55 minutes to go: Three cars yet to leave the garage
Sergio Perez as well as Daniel Ricciardo and George Russell are all yet to leave the garage as George Russell wonders whether his Mercedes will be fixed in time.
Max Verstappen just headed for an out-lap.
Green Flag: FP2 gets underway
Esteban Ocon is first out on track in his blue and black Alpine car whilst George Russell is still not in his Mercedes.
Drivers have one hour to get all of their laps and run plans in.
In other news: Formula 3 set for blockbuster finale
Six drivers can take the FIA Formula 3 title this weekend in Monza and it’s Leonardo Fornaroli who takes pole for the feature race in front of his home Italian crowd.
If you love racing, this is definitely one to watch throughout the weekend.
How will Antonelli’s FP1 crash impact George Russell?
With 12 minutes to go, work is still going on George Russell’s Mercedes to get it ready for FP2 so how will Kimi Antonelli’s crash impact the Brit’s session?
Russell previously predicted Mercedes to have a strong weekend in Monza following a poor performance at the 2024 Dutch GP.
ICYMI: Your FP1 results
Who topped Friday’s FP1 session? Did Lando Norris continue his fine run of form or was it a resurgence for Max Verstappen?
Here are your FP1 results.
Welcome to Formula 1, Franco Colapinto
The big news of the week is that Williams decided to drop Logan Sargeant from the team in the middle of the season instead of at the end of 2025 and they brought in Franco Colapinto, part of their development academy, from F2.
He made his debut in FP1 and also found a trip through the gravel, how quickly will he get up to speed in 2024?
ICYMI: Kimi Antonelli’s dramatic FP1 crash
Kimi Antonelli made his F1 appearance at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in FP1 with Mercedes but after 10 minutes it turned into disaster.
Watch as the 18-year-old star crashed at the parabolica corner as he left no time on the table in a brutal learning lesson.
Pirelli tyre compounds for 2024 Italian GP
Where to watch F1 2024 Italian GP?
For F1 fans in the UK, Sky Sports F1 is the go to place for all the Formula 1 action with coverage of every Italian GP session live, including all three practice sessions, Qualifying and the race on Sunday.
US F1 fans can catch all the action from Monza across ESPN, with the race live on ESPN on Sunday morning ET.
