FP3: Norris fastest as Leclerc splits the McLarens in final practice for Italian Grand Prix

Lando Norris finished fastest in the final practice session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc splitting the two McLaren drivers.

Norris, who trails team mate Oscar Piastri by 34 points in the fight for the Drivers' title, set a 1m 19.331s in Free Practice 3, while Leclerc gave the home Tifosi hope of a strong result at Monza by finishing just a fraction slower.

Despite it being the final hour of practice before the crucial Qualifying session later today, it took nearly 10 minutes for the majority of drivers to hit the circuit, with most initially just performing installation laps for tyre scrubbing.

Those who did decide to set timed laps did so on the hard Pirelli rubber, with focus already turning towards the second half of the session where track conditions would be at their optimal for Qualifying simulations.

Lewis Hamilton, who carries a five-place grid penalty from last weekend into Qualifying, ran wide into the run-off area at the first chicane, as did many others including Lando Norris, Ollie Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto and Carlos Sainz, with the Williams driver complaining of a tailwind.

Isack Hadjar became the first driver to run a set of soft tyres approaching the 15-minute mark, but the Racing Bulls driver could only go second, nearly three-tenths slower than Yuki Tsunoda, who had posted a 1m 20.775s on the hard compound.

After 20 minutes, Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen launched himself to the top of the times with the soft tyre, a 1m 20.040s leaving him several tenths clear of the field before Leclerc slotted in behind by just 0.014s.

The Ferrari driver went again on the medium compound but caught a huge oversteer moment through the Parabolica, while Verstappen did improve, down to a 1m 19.688s with the red-walled tyre, but left frustrated by Esteban Ocon after going wheel-to-wheel with the Haas driver on preparation laps through the opening corners.

Hamilton jumped up to second with 25 minutes remaining, the Briton using the medium tyre to post a time just over two-tenths slower than Verstappen's benchmark, with Alex Albon slotting into third just fractions slower on the softs.

As expected, a flurry of Qualifying runs came approaching the final 15-minutes with Norris jumping to the top on a 1m 19.331s, as team mate Piastri proved to be 0.247s slower and back in third as Verstappen jumped fractionally ahead.

While Norris failed to improve with his second effort, Piastri closed the gap to just 0.165s as the Ferrari pair went out on softs for the first time.

But Leclerc suffered another close call after dipping his left-rear in the gravel on the exit of Lesmo 2, while Hamilton could only jump to sixth and asking for "some more speed".

Leclerc set the fastest opening sector with his following attempt, the lap proving good enough for P2 and just 0.021s behind Norris, less than two-tenths covering Piastri, Verstappen and George Russell behind.

Bortoleto finished an impressive sixth from Hamilton, Hadjar and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, with Albon (Williams) completing the top 10.

They were followed by Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Sainz (Williams), Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Tsunoda.

Liam Lawson finished P16, his Racing Bulls machine being repaired in the latter stages with floor damage, as Bearman (Haas), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Ocon completed the order.