Did Lando Norris Outpace Everyone in Final Practice at Monza?
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Synopsis
In a thrilling showdown at Monza, Lando Norris showcased his speed by topping the final practice session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri put on impressive performances, finishing closely behind. As the excitement builds for the qualifying session, fans are eager to see who will claim pole position.
Key Takeaways
- Lando Norris achieved the fastest lap in the final practice session.
- Charles Leclerc finished closely behind in second place.
- Oscar Piastri secured third position, showcasing McLaren's strong performance.
- The qualifying session is set for 7:30 PM IST.
- Lewis Hamilton struggles with a five-place grid penalty.
Monza, Sep 6 (NationPress) Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver in the concluding practice session at Monza ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, clocking an impressive best lap of 1m 19.331s. Charles Leclerc delighted the home crowd by securing second place, merely 0.021s behind the McLaren ace, while Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri took third, finishing 0.165s back.
The session kicked off at a slow pace, with many drivers dedicating the first 10 minutes to tire scrubbing on hard compounds. As the track conditions improved, attention quickly shifted to qualifying simulations. Lewis Hamilton, who is facing a five-place grid penalty from the previous race, was among several competitors—including Norris, Ollie Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Carlos Sainz—who ran wide at Turn 1 due to tailwind challenges.
Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar was the first to make the switch to soft tires but couldn't surpass teammate Yuki Tsunoda's earlier hard tire time of 1m 20.775s. Max Verstappen later surged into the lead with a 1m 20.040s on softs, then improved to 1m 19.688s, although his progress was interrupted by a wheel-to-wheel moment with Esteban Ocon during the preparation laps.
Hamilton briefly climbed to second using medium tires, with Alex Albon taking third on softs. In the final 15 minutes, Norris reclaimed the top position with his 1m 19.331s lap. Piastri closed the gap but stayed third, followed by Verstappen and George Russell.
Leclerc, despite facing a scare at Lesmo 2 and an earlier oversteer at Parabolica, recovered on softs to finish second. Bortoleto impressed with a sixth-place finish ahead of Hamilton, Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli, and Albon.
The rest of the top 20 featured Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso, Sainz, Franco Colapinto, and Tsunoda. Liam Lawson finished 16th post floor damage repairs, with Bearman, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, and Ocon following.
Norris had previously topped the timesheets in the second free practice on Friday evening, while Hamilton recorded the fastest time in the first session.
All attention now shifts to the Qualifying session, set to commence at 7:30 PM IST.
Point of View
I recognize the significance of this practice session. With Lando Norris's impressive performance, the stage is set for an exciting qualifying round. The competition is fierce, and the fans are eager for the spectacle that is Formula 1 racing.
NationPress
21/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the fastest driver in the final practice session at Monza?
Lando Norris topped the timesheets with a best lap of 1m 19.331s.
What position did Charles Leclerc finish in the final practice?
Charles Leclerc finished second, just 0.021s behind Norris.
When is the qualifying session scheduled to start?
The qualifying session is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
Which driver faced a five-place grid penalty?
Lewis Hamilton is carrying a five-place grid penalty from the previous race.
What tire compound did Isack Hadjar use first?
Isack Hadjar was the first to switch to soft tires during the session.
