FP2: Russell beats Leclerc and Antonelli to the fastest time in Free Practice 2 ahead of Italian Grand Prix

George Russell finished fastest in Free Practice 2 ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc splitting the Mercedes drivers as Kimi Antonelli was third.

Russell posted a 1m 22.559s, which left the Mercedes driver 0.120s clear of Leclerc's Ferrari, with Antonelli – who is due to start at the back of the grid for the Grand Prix after taking an engine change – just 0.021s further back.

All 22 regular drivers were back in action for FP2 after Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez missed the opening, one-hour session as their respective seats were taken by F1 rookies.

As the light at the end of the pit lane turned green at 1600 local time, the majority of the field immediately headed out on track, fitted with a mix of medium and hard Pirelli tyres.

After the opening 10 minutes, Antonelli led with a 1m 23.417s, as just 0.055s covered the Italian, team mate Russell and Leclerc, with the Ferrari driver having briefly taken to the run-off area at the first chicane after locking up.

Verstappen, meanwhile, was complaining about a lack of downforce in his Red Bull, pulling into the pits as the car's front wing was replaced, before posting a time only good enough for P8 with the medium tyre.

Cars circulated in close proximity in an attempt to get a tow, with Lando Norris suffering a near-miss at the first chicane and taking to the grass in the braking zone after Lance Stroll moved over onto the racing line, the reigning World Champion commenting "it's dangerous".

Antonelli was one of the first drivers to bolt on a set of soft tyres, but the Drivers' Championship leader aborted his first effort after encountering traffic through the Parabolica. His second attempt was better, Antonelli the first driver to dip below the 1m 23s barrier with a 1m 22.700s.

Russell also aborted his first stint on the soft tyre to pit for a front wing adjustment, but back up to speed and approaching the halfway point, the Briton fractionally lowered the benchmark down to a 1m 22.686s.

It left the Mercedes duo more than seven tenths clear of the rest of the field, who soon began to focus on their own Qualifying simulations.

Leclerc replicated his form from FP1 by setting the fastest time, a 1m 22.679s, before Russell usurped the former with a 1m 22.559s.

Russell's time remained unbeaten until the chequered flag, leaving him clear of Leclerc, who suffered a spin at the second chicane in the final 10 minutes but rejoined unharmed.

Antonelli was P3 after complaining of understeer, as Norris, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), Ollie Bearman (Haas), Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda's Racing Bulls completed the top 10.

Alpine's Franco Colapinto was P11 after suffering a high speed off on the exit of the Ascari Chicane, followed by Liam Lawson (Red Bull), Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), the second Alpine of Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto, the Audi driver stopping early with an engine issue.

Williams team mates Albon and Carlos Sainz were P16 and P17, as Esteban Ocon (Haas), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), the Cadillacs of Perez and Valtteri Bottas, and Stroll's Aston Martin completed the order.