The battle for speed is already heating up at Monza. Lando Norris delivered a stunning lap to put McLaren on top as he led final practice for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix. Norris beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.021 seconds, with teammate Oscar Piastri close behind in third. Norris tops final practice Italian GP in a session that hinted at a thrilling qualifying to come.
A Close Fight in the Early Laps
The session began with Yuki Tsunoda setting the early benchmark on Hard tyres. His time of 1:21.876 quickly dropped to 1:20.775 as the track evolved. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton slotted into second, while Isack Hadjar impressed for Racing Bulls with a strong early P3 run.
As the first 20 minutes unfolded, Piastri briefly claimed the top spot with a 1:20.639, but Tsunoda immediately responded. Soon after, Max Verstappen showcased Red Bull’s pace by moving into P1 with a 1:20.040 before lowering it again to 1:19.688. Leclerc, on Mediums, wasn’t far behind with a 1:20.054.
McLaren Shows Its Strength
The turning point came with just under 20 minutes left. Norris emerged on Soft tyres and delivered a blistering 1:19.331 lap. That effort put him comfortably clear of Verstappen and set the tone for McLaren’s charge. Piastri followed with consistent laps that kept him inside the top three, underlining the team’s strength at Monza.
Ferrari’s Late Push at Home
With time running out, Leclerc gave Ferrari fans something to cheer about. The Monegasque improved dramatically in the final minutes, moving from P11 to P2 with a 1:19.352 lap. That effort left him just 0.021 seconds off Norris, a gap that suggests Ferrari could mount a serious qualifying challenge. Hamilton also showed pace, finishing seventh but within three tenths of the leader.
Final Order Highlights
Behind the leading trio, Verstappen narrowly missed out on the top three by 0.002 seconds. George Russell put Mercedes in the mix with fifth place, while Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto impressed with sixth. Isack Hadjar gave Racing Bulls another boost in eighth, ahead of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and Williams’ Alex Albon, who completed the top ten.
Summary
The Italian Grand Prix weekend is shaping up for a spectacular showdown. Norris leads the way, but Leclerc and Piastri are right there, while Verstappen and Hamilton lurk in the shadows. With margins this tight, qualifying at Monza promises fireworks.
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 6 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 9 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 10 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 11 | Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 14 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 15 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
| 16 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 17 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 18 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 20 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
Disclaimer: Results are from official Formula 1 practice timings and may not reflect qualifying or race performance.