Practice 3 Report - Lando Norris edges Leclerc in Monza final practice

Lando Norris
© McLaren

Lando Norris set the pace in final practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, edging Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.021s in a closely fought FP3 that offered little separation among the leading contenders.

The McLaren driver delivered a 1m19.331s lap on soft tyres with just over 15 minutes to run, underlining the team’s strength on low fuel. Norris, who is chasing down team-mate Oscar Piastri’s 34-point championship advantage, looked assured throughout, particularly through the high-speed Ascari chicane where McLaren’s balance appeared strongest.

Leclerc, cheered on by the tifosi, saved his best until the closing minutes. Wrestling with oversteer through the Lesmos, he nonetheless hooked up a clean lap at 1m19.352s. That was enough to split the McLarens and push Piastri to third, just 0.165s adrift of Norris. Piastri had earlier improved to a 1m19.496s, trimming his deficit to under two tenths, but could not respond once Leclerc displaced him.

Red Bull looked far more competitive than in 2024 at Monza, as Max Verstappen placed fourth with a 1m19.498s, a scant 0.002s slower than Piastri. Verstappen had been first to dip under 80 seconds midway through the session, logging a 1m19.688s, before McLaren and Ferrari asserted themselves.

Mercedes showed encouraging pace as George Russell managed fifth at 1m19.515s, just 0.184s off Norris. Behind him, rookie Gabriel Bortoleto continued his impressive debut season by placing his Sauber sixth with a 1m19.558s. That placed him ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari, who clocked a 1m19.598s on his final run.

Isack Hadjar in his Racing Bull managed eighth with 1m19.603s, only 0.272s away from the top, while compatriot Andrea Kimi Antonelli bounced back from his FP2 gravel excursion to place ninth for Mercedes at 1m19.696s. Rounding out the top 10, Alex Albon finished with his Williams with a 1m19.720s.

The top ten were covered by just 0.4s, indicating that qualifying will likely be determined by tiny margins. With McLaren holding the statistical edge, Ferrari buoyed by home support, and Red Bull showing signs of progress, the fight for pole position at the royal park in Monza promises to be finely balanced.

Qualifying begins at 16:00 local time, where Norris will seek to translate his practice form into a grid-topping performance.