Norris Paces Final Practice at 2025 Italian Grand Prix

Lando Norris set the fastest time in the final free practice session for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, signaling strong form ahead of qualifying. The McLaren driver narrowly edged out Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, setting the stage for a tight battle for pole position.

Why it matters

Final practice is crucial for teams to fine-tune their setups and for drivers to gain confidence before the all-important qualifying session. Norris topping the charts suggests McLaren could be a strong contender at Monza.

The details

• Top of the timesheets: Lando Norris (McLaren) with a 1m 19.331s lap.
• Close second: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), just 0.021s behind Norris, thrilling the Tifosi.
• Other notable performances: Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), George Russell (Mercedes), and the impressive Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top six, highlighting a competitive field.
• Tight margins: The entire field was incredibly close, with Esteban Ocon (Haas), who finished last, within one second of Norris's leading time, indicating a challenging qualifying session to come.
• Struggles: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) was P7, over two-tenths adrift, while Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) finished down in 15th.

What's next

Teams will now prepare for the qualifying session later today, where the battle for pole position at the historic Monza circuit is expected to be fierce.