Italian GP: Norris ups the pace, tops FP3 from Leclerc

Lando Norris set the pace in the third and final practice session for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, narrowly outpacing Ferrari’s home hero Charles Leclerc and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

With qualifying looming, the session at Monza’s iconic Temple of Speed showcased a fiercely competitive field, with McLaren and Ferrari emerging as frontrunners for pole position.

Norris’ benchmark time of 1m19.331s on soft tyres underscored McLaren’s pre-weekend favoritism, but Ferrari’s late surge and Red Bull’s resurgence suggest a tight battle ahead.

• Italian Grand Prix Free Practice 2 - Results

McLaren’s Dominance and Ferrari’s Late Charge

The session began with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda setting the early pace on the hard rubber, as teams experimented with all three Pirelli compounds.

Max Verstappen was the first to break the 1m20 barrier, clocking a 1m19.688s on softs after 25 minutes, surpassing Norris’ leading FP2 time from Friday.

However, McLaren asserted its authority in the final 20 minutes, with Norris vaulting to the top with his 1m19.331s lap, a quarter of a second clear of teammate Piastri’s initial 1m19.578s effort.

Piastri responded with a 1m19.496s on his second soft-tire run, closing the gap to Norris to just 0.167s. Ferrari, however, stole the spotlight late in the session.

Leclerc, battling oversteer issues, produced a stunning 1m19.352s to slot into second, a mere 0.021s behind Norris.

The Monegasque driver’s performance electrified the Tifosi, signaling the Scuderia’s intent to challenge for pole at their home race, much like their strong showing in 2024.

Red Bull and Mercedes Stay in Contention

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen showed again promising form with a fourth-place time of 1m19.498s, just 0.002s off Piastri. The Dutchman’s performance echoed Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko’s confidence in the team’s competitiveness, suggesting the RB21 could challenge McLaren’s dominance on race day.

Mercedes’ George Russell also impressed, securing fifth with a time just two tenths off Norris, hinting at a qualifying session where fine margins will – as usual – decide the grid.

Surprises and Rookie Resilience

Sauber emerged as the surprise package of FP3, with rookie Gabriel Bortoleto claiming an impressive sixth place, ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in seventh.

Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar continued his strong weekend, taking eighth, while Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli recovered from his FP2 exit to post a solid ninth on a revised run plan.

Williams’ Alex Albon rounded out the top ten, setting the stage for a unpredictable qualifying.

With McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes all within striking distance, the 2025 Italian Grand Prix qualifying promises to be a nail-biter.

Norris, chasing Piastri’s 34-point championship lead, will aim to convert his FP3 pace into pole, but Leclerc’s late heroics and Verstappen’s resurgence ensure a fierce fight.

As teams fine-tune their setups, the battle for supremacy at Monza is set to captivate fans under the late summer sun.

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