Monza saw an unexpected twist in Friday’s practice sessions for the Italian Grand Prix. McLaren’s British driver, Lando Norris, truly turned heads by setting the fastest time in the second free practice. He edged out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.083 seconds, showing just how tight things are getting on the track.
Even more surprising was the third-place finisher, Carlos Sainz from Williams, who clocked in only 0.096 seconds behind Norris. This performance suggests Williams could be a dark horse this weekend. It also meant a change at the top after the first session. Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, had been quickest earlier in the day. However, he slipped to fifth, finishing 0.192 seconds off the pace.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’s McLaren teammate and the current championship leader, stayed consistent. The Australian driver grabbed fourth spot, just 0.181 seconds behind the leader. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, the Dutch reigning champion from Red Bull, found himself in sixth place. He was 0.199 seconds slower than Norris. All eyes are now on the upcoming qualifying session. It happens later today, right after the third practice, to decide starting positions for tomorrow’s big race.