George Russell beat Charles Leclerc to the fastest time of second practice at the Italian Grand Prix as Mercedes responded to Ferrari's early pace at Monza. At an event in which championship-leading team-mate Kimi Antonelli will start at the back of Sunday's grid owing to engine-change penalties, Russell has a big chance to eat into the Italian's 59-point advantage if he can deliver a strong race weekend.

Ferrari had finished first and second quickest in opening practice as they debuted an upgraded engine but Russell was the driver to beat in the second session amid continued sweltering temperatures in northern Italy. The Briton set a quickest lap of 1:22.559 to outpace Leclerc - who had a late spin - by 0.120s and Antonelli by 0.141s.

Lewis Hamilton, second fastest in the earlier running, slipped to fifth behind Mc Laren's Lando Norris during a session which included the Ferrari running straight on at the first chicane. Norris has won the last two races but Mc Laren are expecting Monza's straights and slow chicanes to prove more challenging for their car. Fourth-fastest Norris was 0.384s off the second-practice pace with Oscar Piastri a further tenth behind in sixth.

The world champion was angered by what he perceived to be "dangerous" driving by Aston Martin's Lance Stroll midway through the session when he was forced off track at the first chicane. That incident was placed under a post-session stewards' investigation. Max Verstappen returned after sitting out the first session for Red Bull rookie Ayumu Iwasa but the Dutchman was unhappy with his RB22's balance and was only able to set the ninth-fastest time.