Lando Norris just pipped Charles Leclerc to the fastest time of final practice at Monza to set up a potentially grandstand battle between at least McLaren and home favourites Ferrari for Italian Grand Prix pole position.
A last-gasp lap propelled Leclerc, who had earlier made a mistake on his first soft-tyre run, from 10th to second to finish just 0.021s behind Norris, who had earlier set the pace on a 1:19.331.
Norris will again take a pace edge over title-leading team-mate Oscar Piastri into qualifying after outpacing the Australian, who finished third, by 0.165s.
A week after topping all three practice sessions at Zandvoort only to lose out on pole position to Piastri, Norris will head into Saturday’s 3pm qualifying hour on the back of fastest times in the final two practice sessions.
There was again little to choose between the leading cars, with just under four tenths of a second covering the top 10.
Max Verstappen’s promising start at Monza continued as he took fourth for Red Bull while George Russell showed Mercedes’ best form of the weekend so far to finish close behind in fifth.
Lewis Hamilton, who carries a five-place grid penalty into qualifying, slipped to seventh behind Gabriel Bortoleto as Sauber at least temporarily supplanted Friday stars Williams as the team to most-closely challenge the leading four outfits.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Italian GP Schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Italian Grand Prix
Sunday September 7
7.10am: F3 Feature Race
8.40am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s European season concludes with the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday with lights out at 2pm and build-up from 12.30pm on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
