Norris Edges Leclerc in Monza Practice, Setting Up Thrilling Qualifying
Lando Norris narrowly secured the fastest time in the final practice session for the Italian Grand Prix, edging out Charles Leclerc by just 0.021 seconds. This thrilling showdown sets the stage for an exciting pole position battle between McLaren and Ferrari at the renowned Monza circuit. Norris clocked a lap time of 1:19.331, demonstrating his speed ahead of the crucial qualifying session.
Leclerc’s performance was marked by a late surge that propelled him from 10th to second place after a previous mistake during his first run on soft tyres. This last-minute effort showcased the competitive nature of the session. Norris, who has consistently shown promise, will enter qualifying with a slight advantage over his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who finished third, trailing Norris by 0.165 seconds.
The top ten drivers displayed impressive closeness in performance, with less than four-tenths of a second separating them. Max Verstappen continued his strong start at Monza, securing fourth place for Red Bull. George Russell provided a glimpse of Mercedes’ best form this weekend, finishing fifth and placing himself in contention for a strong qualifying position.
Lewis Hamilton’s day was complicated by a five-place grid penalty, landing him in seventh position behind Gabriel Bortoleto. Sauber momentarily outperformed Williams, becoming the team most capable of challenging the leading four outfits, which adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming race.
As the teams prepare for qualifying on September 7, 2025, the anticipation builds for what promises to be a thrilling session at 15:00 local time. Following the qualifying round, the Italian Grand Prix will commence on Sunday at 14:00, with extensive coverage provided by Sky Sports F1 from 12:30.
This weekend at Monza marks the conclusion of Formula 1’s European season, and fans around the world are eager to see how the championship contenders will perform under pressure. With the grid shaping up to be highly competitive, the excitement is palpable as teams finalize their strategies for this iconic race.
