Lando Norris fastest in final Italian GP practice at Monza

Lando Norris topped Monza final practice, narrowly ahead of Charles Leclerc, highlighting McLaren’s one-lap speed. Betting takeaway: backing Norris for pole or a top-3 qualifying finish looks tempting, though Leclerc’s home form and Hamilton’s five-place penalty could shift value toward other front-row contenders.

Norris Sets the Pace in Final Practice at Monza

Lando Norris posted the fastest time in Saturday’s final practice for the Italian Grand Prix, clocking a 1:19.331 at the historic Monza circuit to lead into qualifying. Charles Leclerc thrilled the Tifosi by finishing just 0.021 seconds behind, while Norris’s McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri was third fastest, 0.165 seconds adrift.

Fine Margins at the Top

Both McLaren drivers found their best laps shortly after switching to soft tyres on a dry, high-speed Monza track. Reigning champion Max Verstappen was marginally off the pace in fourth, 0.167 seconds behind Norris, underlining how tight the top four remained in the final shakedown before qualifying.

Championship Picture

Piastri heads into qualifying with a 34-point advantage over Norris in the drivers’ standings. That cushion grew after Norris suffered a mechanical failure during the closing stages of last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, a reminder of how reliability can swing the title fight.

Hamilton Struggles and Penalty Impact

Lewis Hamilton endured another difficult session, finishing 0.267 seconds off the pace in his Ferrari. The seven-time world champion has yet to find a win or podium for the team this season. Hamilton will also carry a five-place grid penalty after failing to slow for yellow flags at Zandvoort, a sanction that could reshuffle starting positions and betting odds for tomorrow’s grid.

Qualifying Outlook

Perfect weather with clear skies and pleasant temperatures is forecast for qualifying, which begins at 1600 local time (1400 GMT). With margins measured in thousandths of a second, teams will be hunting any edge in setup and tyre strategy. Expect punters to weigh McLaren’s one-lap speed against Leclerc’s home advantage and Hamilton’s penalised grid position when sizing up pole and top-3 bets.

Thesun