Lewis Hamilton described Mercedes’ pace as 'surprising' compared to Ferrari's at Monza after he finished FP2 in second place on Friday, just behind leader Charles Leclerc. The Mercedes driver spoke after a tough pair of practice sessions in which red flags and rain hampered the teams’ running.

Leclerc began Ferrari’s homecoming on the warpath by leading both Monza sessions, but Mercedes may have something up their sleeve. Hamilton was taken aback by the Silver Arrows’ speed after he split the two scarlet cars in FP2, just 0.068s adrift of Leclerc.

“It definitely is surprising," said Hamilton. "I didn’t know what to expect this weekend. I expected them to be quick on the straights, which they are, but there’s enough corners where we’re able to gain it back. They’re not really that quick through the corners, so it kind of balances us out.”

In Belgium, Mercedes couldn’t compete with Ferrari’s might in qualifying as Leclerc headed Sebastian Vettel in a 1-2 for the Scuderia, so will it be the same here? Not quite, said Hamilton.