Lewis Hamilton tops FP2 at Monza as Mercedes sees glimmer of hope for Italian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton provided a beacon of optimism for Mercedes during Friday's practice sessions for the Italian Grand Prix, clinching the fastest time in FP2. The seven-time world champion narrowly outpaced McLaren's Lando Norris by a mere three-thousandths of a second at the historic Monza circuit, which has recently undergone significant changes.

Hamilton's impressive lap not only demonstrated Mercedes' potential for the weekend but also suggested that the team's upgrades might be paying off. "It’s always a pleasure to race here, and I felt really good in the car today," Hamilton commented after the session, highlighting the improvements in the W15's handling on the newly renovated circuit.

In contrast, Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who had dominated FP1, faced challenges in the second session. A mistake during his only soft-tyre run at the Parabolica corner saw him plummet to 14th on the timesheets. The Dutchman, who is chasing another win to extend his championship lead, will have to regroup and focus on maximizing his performance in the upcoming sessions.

Kevin Magnussen brought a red flag!

FP2 was not without drama, as the session was marred by a red flag. Kevin Magnussen's crash at the high-speed second Lesmo corner brought out the red flag. The Haas driver lost control of his car, spinning through the gravel and slamming into the barriers, which prematurely ended the session for several drivers, including Russell, who had completed only six laps in total.

Adding to Mercedes' concerns were reports of both Hamilton and Russell experiencing discomfort with "hot seats" in their cars. Hamilton voiced his discomfort on two occasions during FP2, an issue that had already emerged during the earlier session. Despite these challenges, Hamilton's top time in FP2 provides Mercedes with much-needed encouragement as they head into the rest of the weekend.

Here is the FP2 results –