Norris Tops Final Practice for Italian GP, Edging Leclerc and Piastri

Lando Norris of McLaren topped the final practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, demonstrating strong pace ahead of qualifying. He narrowly beat Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a highly competitive session.

Why it matters:

This session is crucial for fine-tuning setups and understanding tire performance before the critical qualifying round. McLaren's strong showing, particularly at a high-speed circuit like Monza, signals their potential to challenge Ferrari on their home turf.

The big picture:

The session saw a tight battle at the top, with less than four-tenths of a second separating the top 10 drivers. This suggests a highly unpredictable qualifying session, where small margins will dictate starting positions.

The details:

• Early Pace: Yuki Tsunoda initially set the pace on Hard tires, later challenged by Lewis Hamilton. Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar also showed early promise.
• Mid-Session Shuffle: Oscar Piastri briefly led before Tsunoda reclaimed P1. Max Verstappen then took the lead on Soft tires, with Charles Leclerc close behind.
• McLaren's Surge: In the final 20 minutes, Norris emerged on Soft tires to take P1, building a significant gap. Piastri then improved to P2.
• Late Charge: Charles Leclerc mounted a late charge, jumping from 11th to second, just 0.021s behind Norris. Verstappen also improved, finishing fourth.
• Top 10: Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, George Russell, Gabriel Bortoleto, Hamilton, Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli, and Alex Albon rounded out the top 10, all within a small time window.

What's next:

All eyes are now on qualifying, where these narrow margins will translate into critical grid positions for Sunday's Italian Grand Prix. McLaren's speed, Ferrari's home advantage, and Red Bull's consistent threat promise an enthralling session.