George Russell landed a timely world championship boost by finishing fastest in practice for the Italian Grand Prix.
Russell has won just two of the 12 rounds so far, and he heads into Sunday’s race at Monza 59 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
However, Antonelli will serve a grid penalty for exceeding engine parts and is due to start his home event from the back of the field.
Antonelli’s sanction provides Russell with a golden opportunity to eat into his team-mate’s lead, and the Englishman will be able to draw confidence from his speed in practice.
Russell finished 0.120 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – who had earlier set the pace in first practice – with Antonelli 0.141 sec off the pace.
Lando Norris arrives at the Temple of Speed as a driver in form having won the previous rounds, in Hungary, prior to the summer break, and in the Netherlands a fortnight ago.
However, the world champion, 83 points behind Antonelli did not trouble the top of the order on Friday. Norris finished almost four tenths behind Russell and a place clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
Norris also accused Lance Stroll of “dangerous driving” after he had to take evasive action at the opening chicane to avoid a collision with the Aston Martin driver.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton is armed here with an engine upgrade and spoke on Thursday about the “phenomenal” prospect of taking a record sixth win at the Temple of Speed, and a first as a Ferrari driver.
Hamilton finished second to team-mate Leclerc in the opening running, but was then half-a-second back later in the day, to deal a provisional dent in his victory bid, and his aspirations of a record eighth title. Like Russell, he is 59 points behind Antonelli in the standings.
Hamilton was one of five Brits in the top eight, with Racing Bulls’ rookie Arvid Lindblad seventh and Haas driver Ollie Bearman a place behind.
Max Verstappen struggled with the handling of his Red Bull, and could manage only ninth on an underwhelming afternoon for the four-time world champion.
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