Why Leclerc and Verstappen should have McLaren worried at Monza

Although Lando Norris topped Free Practice 2 at Monza after the qualifying simulation runs, one thing was clear after the first day of the Italian Grand Prix.

McLaren will not have everything its own way. 

The Briton was fastest by the slender margin of 0.083s from the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, with surprise package Carlos Sainz also within a tenth. 

A year on from branding his Red Bull as "a monster" and "undrivable", Max Verstappen was also lurking, a couple of tenths down, but in P6 in the times.

McLaren's decision

What is clear from the data is that on Friday at least, McLaren appeared to be carrying more downforce on its MCL39 than its immediate rivals. 

Both Norris and championship leader Oscar Piastri were at the bottom of the speed trap speeds with 337kph - 209mph - with the Stake duo of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto top at 348kph - 216mph.

When compared to Leclerc and Verstappen, it is in Sector 2 where Norris pulls the most time. 

Leclerc was actually fastest of all, by over a tenth in Sector 1, but through the second sector with the second chicane and the Lesmo sweeps, Norris was comfortably faster. 

In the flat out blast of Sector 3, Norris was fractionally faster than the Ferrari by just 0.010s, also pulling a tenth out here on Verstappen. 

The Dutchman, third fastest of this trio in every sector, was not far behind, as the track dominance map below shows, with a full detailed overview of FP2 also below!