Formula 1 News: Norris tops final practice for the 2025 Italian GP

McLaren driver Lando Norris (pictured) turned a lap of 1m19.331s to top final practice for the 2025 Italian GP at Monza.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Last year’s winner of the Italian GP, Charles Leclerc, gave the tifosi something to cheer about by turning a late lap to put him 2nd, just 0.021s behind Norris.

16 LECLERC Charles (mco), Scuderia Ferrari SF-25, action during the 2025 Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Premio d’Italia, 2025 Italian Grand Prix, 16th round of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship from September 5 to 7, 2025 on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, in Monza, Italy – Photo ALBERTO VIMERCATI DPPI / DPPI for Ferrari

Point leader Oscar Piastri, in the other superior McLaren, was 3rd fastest, just 0.165s behind Norris.

Carrying the Red Bull RB21 dog on his back, Max Verstappen went 4th quick, 0.167s behind Norris. How bad is the RB21 dog? Yuki Tsunoda was way down in 15th place in the identical car to Verstappen.

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 schools Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 06, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Sam Bloxham/LAT Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

George Russell was 5th in the #63 Mercedes, just a tick behind Verstappen and 0.184s behind Norris.

Norris might be on top, but on a day where the gaps are this tight, there are no guarantees out there. The smallest of mistakes won’t cost a driver pole, it could cost them 10 grid slots.

And away from the fight for pole, which seems to include the McLarens, Ferraris, Verstappen and perhaps even Russell, the midfield fight for Q3 is going to be every bit as closely fought.

Beaten by his teammate once again, #44 HAMILTON Lewis (gbr), Scuderia Ferrari SF-25, action during the 2025 Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Premio d’Italia, 2025 Italian Grand Prix, 16th round of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship from September 5 to 7, 2025 on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, in Monza, Italy – Photo ALBERTO VIMERCATI DPPI / DPPI for Ferrari

2025 Italian GP at Monza Practice 3 Results

Pos	No.	Driver	Nat	Team	Time
1	4	Lando Norris	GBR	McLaren F1 Team	1m19.331s
2	16	Charles Leclerc	MON	Scuderia Ferrari HP	1m19.352s
3	81	Oscar Piastri	AUS	McLaren F1 Team	1m19.496s
4	1	Max Verstappen	NED	Oracle Red Bull Racing	1m19.498s
5	63	George Russell	GBR	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	1m19.515s
6	5	Gabriel Bortoleto	BRA	Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber	1m19.558s
7	44	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	Scuderia Ferrari HP	1m19.598s
8	6	Isack Hadjar	FRA	Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team	1m19.603s
9	12	Kimi Antonelli	ITA	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	1m19.696s
10	23	Alex Albon	THA	Atlassian Williams Racing	1m19.720s
11	27	Nico Hulkenberg	GER	Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber	1m19.737s
12	14	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team	1m19.861s
13	55	Carlos Sainz	ESP	Atlassian Williams Racing	1m19.907s
14	43	Franco Colapinto	ARG	BWT Alpine F1 Team	1m20.034s
15	22	Yuki Tsunoda	JPN	Oracle Red Bull Racing	1m20.059s
16	30	Liam Lawson	NZL	Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team	1m20.132s
17	87	Oliver Bearman	GBR	MoneyGram Haas F1 Team	1m20.209s
18	10	Pierre Gasly	FRA	BWT Alpine F1 Team	1m20.247s
19	18	Lance Stroll	CAN	Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team	1m20.247s
20	31	Esteban Ocon	FRA	MoneyGram Haas F1 Team	1m20.304s