Paddock Buzz: Drivers and Team Bosses React to Monza's Friday Action
Manish
The Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza got off to an exciting start with two action-packed practice sessions on Friday. The newly resurfaced track presented challenges for drivers and teams as they worked to find the optimal setup and understand tire behavior on the smooth surface.
Mercedes Shows Promise
Mercedes had a strong showing, with Lewis Hamilton topping the timesheets in FP2. Despite a crash for rookie Kimi Antonelli in FP1, the team looks competitive heading into qualifying. George Russell's running was limited due to repairs but he managed to put in some solid laps late in FP2.
Red Bull Faces Challenges
Reigning champions Red Bull had a more difficult day than usual. While Max Verstappen was fastest in FP1, both he and teammate Sergio Perez struggled to set representative lap times in FP2 due to red flags and traffic. The team will be looking to bounce back on Saturday.
Ferrari Impresses at Home
The Tifosi had reason to cheer as Ferrari showed promising pace on home soil. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both featured near the top of the timesheets, raising hopes for a strong qualifying performance in front of the passionate Italian fans.
Midfield Battle Heats Up
The midfield looks extremely tight, with McLaren, Aston Martin, RB, and Haas all showing flashes of speed. Lando Norris impressed for McLaren, while Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll put in solid performances for Aston Martin. Daniel Ricciardo showed good pace for RB, and Nico Hulkenberg surprised with a top-10 time for Haas.
Tire Management Key
A major talking point emerging from Friday's running is tire management. The new track surface is causing high levels of graining, which could make Sunday's race particularly challenging for drivers. Finding the right balance between qualifying pace and race performance will be crucial for teams as they fine-tune their setups.
With such close competition and unpredictable tire behavior, the stage is set for an exciting qualifying session on Saturday and a potentially thrilling race on Sunday at the Temple of Speed.
