If you ever needed proof that Formula 1 is a sport where the script is written in pencil and the eraser is wielded by the gods of speed, look no further than Free Practice 3 at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. Monza, the so-called Temple of Speed, has always been a place where legends are made, hearts are broken, and occasionally, the underdog gets to bark so loudly that even the tifosi pause their chants. Today, on a sun-drenched Saturday in Lombardy, the final practice session before qualifying delivered a cocktail of surprises, heartbreaks, and hope—served, as always, with a twist of Italian drama.
- The Calm Before the Storm: Setting the Stage
- Williams: The Unexpected Heroes
- Ferrari: Pressure, Penalties, and the Weight of History
- McLaren: The Reluctant Favorites
- Mercedes and Antonelli: The Rookie’s Baptism by Fire
- Historical Parallels: When Monza Defied Expectations
- The Human Drama: Quotes, Emotions, and the Weight of Expectation
- The Road Ahead: Qualifying and Beyond
- Waste a Bit More Time
The Calm Before the Storm: Setting the Stage
Monza is not just another circuit. It is a living, breathing monument to speed, history, and the eternal hope of Ferrari fans. The circuit, with its 4.259 km of flat-out straights and chicanes, has seen everything from the glory of Schumacher to the heartbreak of Vettel, and now, the pressure cooker that is Lewis Hamilton’s first home race in red. The 2025 season has been a McLaren masterclass so far, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris trading blows at the top of the championship, but Monza is where the form book is often tossed out of the window—sometimes literally, if you’ve ever seen an Italian mechanic after a botched pit stop.
Today’s FP3 was more than just a warm-up. It was a statement of intent, a psychological battle, and for some, a desperate search for answers. The session was watched by a capacity crowd of 118,865, most of whom would sell their nonna’s secret pasta recipe for a Ferrari pole. But as history has shown, Monza is no respecter of sentiment.
Williams: The Unexpected Heroes
Let’s get straight to the headline: Williams, yes, Williams, were the talk of the paddock. Carlos Sainz, in the blue and white, continued his astonishing run of form, finishing third in both Friday sessions and right in the mix again in FP3. For a team that has spent much of the last decade as Formula 1’s answer to a forgotten VHS tape, this was nothing short of miraculous.
Williams could cause a surprise as Sainz and Alex Albon were towards the top of the timesheets all day.
Karun Chandhok, Sky Sports F1
Sainz’s performance is not just a feel-good story; it’s a testament to the team’s relentless pursuit of straight-line speed and clever setup work. Monza rewards low drag and bravery on the brakes, and Williams have found a sweet spot that has eluded giants like Mercedes and Red Bull this weekend. Alex Albon, too, flirted with the top five, reminding everyone that on the right day, the Grove outfit can still punch above its weight.
Ferrari: Pressure, Penalties, and the Weight of History
If you think driving for Ferrari at Monza is a dream, try telling that to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The pressure is suffocating, the expectations astronomical, and the margin for error non-existent. Hamilton, making his first competitive appearance at Monza in scarlet, has already been handed a five-place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement at Zandvoort—a penalty that has left even seasoned observers scratching their heads.
To get the penalty and get penalty points was pretty hardcore, but I learned from it, and there’s no point whinging about it. I’ll move forwards.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Despite the penalty, Hamilton topped FP1 and remained competitive in FP2 and FP3, while Leclerc has been a model of consistency, always within a tenth of the leaders. The SF-25 looks quick in low-downforce trim, and the tifosi dare to dream of a home pole. But as any Ferrari fan will tell you, hope is a dangerous thing at Monza.
McLaren: The Reluctant Favorites
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been the class of the field in 2025, but Monza has exposed a few chinks in the McLaren armor. Norris topped FP2 but was quick to downplay expectations, noting that the gap to the rest of the field is “just a bit close for my liking.” Piastri, meanwhile, admitted to being surprised by the pace of Williams and Ferrari, and with good reason—the top four were separated by less than two tenths in FP3.
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.
Lando Norris, McLaren
McLaren’s dominance at high-downforce tracks like Zandvoort has not translated to Monza’s low-drag demands. The team remains in a “reasonable place,” but the sense of invincibility is gone. For the first time in months, qualifying feels like an open contest.
Mercedes and Antonelli: The Rookie’s Baptism by Fire
Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old Italian rookie, has endured a torrid weekend. After beaching his Mercedes in FP2—his second such incident in as many Fridays—Antonelli is under pressure to deliver in front of his home crowd. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has publicly backed the youngster, but the learning curve is steep, and Monza is unforgiving.
Historical Parallels: When Monza Defied Expectations
Monza has a long history of throwing up surprises in FP3. In 2017, a rain-soaked session saw McLaren’s Fernando Alonso top the timesheets—a result so improbable it nearly broke the internet. In 2014, Williams’ Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa ran Mercedes close, while in 2019, Charles Leclerc’s FP3 pace set the stage for his emotional victory. Even Haas and Toro Rosso have had their moments in the sun, proving that at Monza, anything is possible.
The Human Drama: Quotes, Emotions, and the Weight of Expectation
The emotional stakes at Monza are always high, but this year feels different. Hamilton’s penalty has added a layer of intrigue, while Sainz’s resurgence with Williams has given neutrals a reason to cheer. The paddock is buzzing with anticipation, and the drivers know that every thousandth of a second counts.
I think it was also who was in the mix was a bit of a surprise. The Williams looked strong in both sessions so let’s see if they are still there tomorrow but I think it’s going to be a close weekend.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
The Road Ahead: Qualifying and Beyond
With qualifying just hours away, the stage is set for one of the most unpredictable sessions in recent memory. Ferrari are desperate for a home pole, McLaren want to reassert their dominance, and Williams are dreaming of a fairytale. Red Bull and Mercedes, meanwhile, are lurking, ready to pounce if the frontrunners falter.
If history is any guide, expect the unexpected. Monza has a habit of making heroes out of outsiders and humbling the mighty. As the engines roar and the crowd rises, remember: in Formula 1, the only certainty is uncertainty.
Waste a Bit More Time
If you’re as addicted to the drama as I am, here are a few ways to prolong your Monza-induced adrenaline rush:
- Read the live FP3 blog and catch up on every twist and turn: RacingNews365 LIVE: 2025 F1 Italian Grand Prix – Monza Free Practice 3
- Dive into the full practice analysis and driver quotes: Sky Sports F1: Italian GP – Lando Norris tops Charles Leclerc in tight Monza second practice
- For a taste of the Italian passion and circuit history, check out the venue breakdown: VAVEL: Formula 1 LIVE Result Updates in Italian GP Qualifying
- Want to know how to watch the rest of the weekend? GPFans: F1 Qualifying Today – Italian Grand Prix 2025 start time, TV channel and FREE live stream
- For the latest on penalties and the Hamilton saga: PlanetF1: Lewis Hamilton’s ‘very unusual’ Italian Grand Prix questioned
And if you want to relive some of Monza’s greatest moments, there’s always YouTube. Just don’t blame me if you lose an entire afternoon to nostalgia.
