FP2: Sainz leads Verstappen and Leclerc in second Monza practice session

Carlos Sainz kept Ferrari at the head of the timesheets during Friday’s second practice session for the Italian Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

Sainz clocked a 1m 21.664s to lead Verstappen by 0.143s, with FP1 pace-setter Charles Leclerc half a tenth further back in third – having narrowly running into Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel under braking for the opening chicane late in the session.

READ MORE: Leclerc leads Sainz for Ferrari 1-2 in opening Monza practice

Verstappen could have threatened Sainz for the P1 spot but a hefty lock-up into Turn 1 at the start of his soft-shod run forced him to back off and go again – losing valuable performance from the rubber in the process.

In any case, Verstappen and Sainz are two of several drivers who will take grid penalties on Sunday, amid various power unit and gearbox component changes up and down the pit lane.

Lando Norris was an eye-catching fourth fastest for McLaren, one year on from the team’s memorable one-two, slotting ahead of George Russell, who led the way for Mercedes.

Amid questions over his recent form, Sergio Perez finished more than half a second adrift of team mate Verstappen in sixth, followed by the other Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton – who reported an “unstable” feeling in his W13.

READ MORE: Verstappen, Hamilton, Sainz and more receive engine and gearbox grid penalties at Monza

Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso were closely matched in eighth and ninth respectively, while the Williams of Alex Albon rounded out the top 10.

Daniel Ricciardo – last year’s Italian Grand Prix winner – ended the opening day in 11th, slotting in front of Alfa Romeo pair Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas, and the AlphaTauris of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda – the latter under investigation for allegedly failing to slow under yellow flags.

Kevin Magnussen was the sole Haas in action for most of the session en route to 16th, after team mate Mick Schumacher ground to a halt in the middle sector at the halfway mark – a power unit issue subsequently being confirmed.

As such, Schumacher finished up with just nine laps for the day, having sat out the opening practice session to give Ferrari-backed Antonio Giovinazzi some extra mileage.

READ MORE: Why Ferrari and Monza’s stories are uniquely intertwined, as Leclerc and Sainz prepare for a critical weekend

Vettel was another to return to action after Nyck de Vries got a run in his Aston Martin in FP1, the four-time champion slotting into 17th ahead of team mate Lance Stroll.

Nicholas Latifi was 19th in the other Williams, more than a second behind high-flying team mate Albon, as the aforementioned Schumacher brought up the rear.