In a thrilling display of speed and skill, Lando Norris surged to the forefront during the second practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, narrowly edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Williams’ Carlos Sainz, who both pressed him within a mere tenth of a second. This performance comes on the heels of Norris’s disappointing retirement from the Dutch Grand Prix, as he looks to claw back a significant 34-point gap to the championship leader, Oscar Piastri.
After a somewhat lackluster showing in the first practice, where he finished in sixth place and struggled to match the pace of Lewis Hamilton, Norris turned up the heat in the second session, showcasing not only speed but also the best long-run pace. “Normally by this point we have, like, a one-second gap on everyone but at the moment it’s just a bit close for my liking,” Norris reflected, highlighting the intense competition. “I feel like some small things to improve and for us to still be P1, I thought was good.”
As the battle for pole position looms, Norris expressed a desire for a more comfortable lead, stating, “I just need to try and make the gap a bit bigger so we’re a little more comfortable.” He acknowledged the stark contrast between the low-downforce requirements of Monza compared to the high-downforce conditions he thrived in at Zandvoort. “The competitors catch up, it looks a bit closer and that makes our life a bit trickier,” he admitted, while remaining optimistic about improving his team’s performance.
With qualifying set to ignite the track on Saturday at 3 PM, live on Sky Sports F1, the anticipation is palpable as the top four drivers remain tightly bunched, separated by less than two-tenths of a second. Piastri, who could not participate in the first practice due to McLaren’s decision to give rookie Alex Dunne some seat time, finished 0.181 seconds off Norris’s pace. However, he faces scrutiny as he is under investigation for allegedly leaving his garage prematurely after a red flag incident. “I think we just misjudged, got confused with the messaging on the timing system and went a little bit early. But not concerned,” Piastri stated, downplaying the situation while acknowledging the possibility of a penalty.
Ferrari’s Leclerc continues to uphold the team’s proud heritage at Monza, finishing second despite minor excursions through the gravel. Hamilton, who topped the first practice, secured fifth place, just 0.192 seconds behind Norris, while Max Verstappen closely followed in sixth, separated by a mere 0.007 seconds.
The Williams team, often seen as underdogs, showed promising speed with Sainz and Alex Albon consistently appearing high on the timesheets, hinting at potential surprises in the race ahead. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli’s woes continued as he caused an early red flag by beaching his Mercedes at Turn 7 for the second consecutive Friday. The 19-year-old, facing a challenging season, received public support from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who confirmed Antonelli’s place with the team alongside George Russell through 2026.
As the European season of Formula 1 culminates at the iconic Monza circuit, fans eagerly await the high-octane drama that the Italian Grand Prix is sure to deliver. With live coverage available on Sky Sports F1, all eyes will be on the unfolding action as drivers prepare to battle for supremacy on one of the sport’s most revered tracks.
