The passion of the Tifosi was on full display as the first day of the 2025 Italian Grand Prix weekend unfolded at Monza, with Ferrari showing flashes of genuine pace and Charles Leclerc emerging as a potential contender for pole position. The iconic circuit, bathed in late-summer sunshine, proved a fitting stage for a dramatic Friday, as practice sessions provided both hope and a fair share of headaches for the teams vying for supremacy.
Charles Leclerc, the Monegasque star of Scuderia Ferrari, finished second in both of Friday’s practice sessions—trailing Lewis Hamilton in FP1 and Lando Norris in FP2. His performance, particularly in the more representative second session, was a tantalizing glimpse of what might be possible for the home team. Leclerc’s best lap in FP2, a 1:19.961 on soft tyres, left him just 0.083 seconds adrift of Norris’ McLaren, a margin so slim it had the grandstands buzzing with anticipation.
“On low fuel and high fuel it’s been quite tricky but fast,” Leclerc candidly admitted after the sessions, echoing a sentiment that’s become familiar to Ferrari fans this season. “I’d rather be in this position than having a consistent car that’s slow, but we need to work a little bit on consistency. I think on the short runs, we managed to extract more or less what there was in the car. However, for tomorrow we need to get that consistency and we are working on that.”
It was a statement that summed up Ferrari’s Friday perfectly: a car that’s quick enough to threaten at the front, but still a handful to drive, especially over longer stints. Leclerc’s run wasn’t without drama either—he survived a scare at the Ascari chicane, briefly visiting the gravel and grass, a reminder of how close to the limit the SF-25 is being pushed in pursuit of glory at home.
Ferrari’s day began with a flourish as they locked out the top two spots in FP1, Hamilton leading Leclerc in a 1-2 that sent a jolt of excitement through the paddock. But as the sun climbed higher and the track rubbered in, the competition intensified. The afternoon session saw McLaren’s Lando Norris surge to the top of the timesheets with a blistering 1:19.878, while Carlos Sainz slotted into third for Williams, just 0.096 seconds behind Norris. The top six were covered by less than two tenths, with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari also in the mix.
The session was briefly halted by a red flag after Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli lost control at Lesmo 2, beached his car in the gravel, and brought his running to an early end. The interruption, while short-lived, was a reminder of the unforgiving nature of Monza’s high-speed layout.
Hamilton, making his first Italian Grand Prix appearance as a Ferrari driver, was upbeat despite finishing fifth in FP2 and facing a five-place grid penalty carried over from the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. “FP1 was really, really strong and FP2 was definitely much more of a struggle but it’s better to have that in FP2 and learn from that rather than FP3,” Hamilton reflected. “Lots of positives to take from today and we’ll do some work overnight and I hope that tomorrow we can be better. I think the McLarens are obviously still very fast and I think it’s very close with everyone in the top five, top 10, so [it] will be a challenge. It’s not easy to overtake and I’ve obviously got that penalty which is unfortunate.”
For Leclerc, the question on everyone’s lips was whether Ferrari could convert their promising pace into a pole position in front of their adoring fans. “That’s a difficult question,” he replied thoughtfully. “For now, I think it’s on the cards, but I don’t know how much Red Bull and McLaren have pushed just yet. I think they have more than what we have in the pocket, so we still need to improve the car, but if we do, then I think there’s a possibility.”
Leclerc’s cautious optimism was well-founded. Both Red Bull and McLaren have made a habit of holding back in practice before unleashing their full potential when it matters most. Still, the Ferrari driver’s form on Friday, coupled with the raucous support of the Monza faithful, means he cannot be discounted. After all, Leclerc knows what it’s like to triumph here—his victory at Monza a year ago remains one of the most memorable moments of his career.
Elsewhere, Lando Norris’ performance was a timely boost for McLaren, especially as he looks to claw back ground in the championship after a costly retirement in Zandvoort. Norris was the first to dip below the 1:20 barrier in FP2, and his pace on both medium and soft tyres suggested McLaren will be a formidable force in qualifying. Carlos Sainz, now at Williams, continued his strong form with a third-place finish in FP2, while Verstappen’s sixth place for Red Bull hinted at more to come from the reigning champions.
The rest of the field saw Alex Albon impressing for Williams, Nico Hulkenberg keeping Sauber in the mix, and Yuki Tsunoda and George Russell rounding out the top ten. Isack Hadjar, fresh off a podium at Zandvoort, had a quieter day in 11th, while the likes of Aston Martin and Alpine appeared to be struggling for pace on the high-speed Monza layout.
Looking ahead, the teams face a crucial third practice session on Saturday morning, with qualifying set to determine the all-important grid positions for Sunday’s race. For Ferrari, the challenge is clear: unlock the consistency that’s been missing and give Leclerc and Hamilton a car capable of taking the fight to McLaren and Red Bull.
The stakes could hardly be higher. With Hamilton’s grid penalty set to shake up the order, and the margins at the top tighter than ever, Saturday’s qualifying session promises to be a thriller. Will Ferrari’s Friday promise translate into a Saturday celebration? Or will McLaren and Red Bull spoil the party at the Temple of Speed?
One thing’s for sure: with Leclerc in the hunt and the Tifosi in full voice, Monza is bracing for another unforgettable weekend of Formula 1 action.
