Ferrari Shines in FP1 but Faces Challenges in FP2 at 2025 Italian Grand Prix

Scuderia Ferrari started the 2025 Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza strongly, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc dominating the first practice session. However, the Italian side’s early pace faded in FP2 as rival teams, including McLaren and Williams, closed the gap on the high-speed circuit.

In FP1, Ferrari claimed the top two spots on the timesheet. Hamilton impressed on his Monza debut for the team, posting a lap of 1:20.117, while Leclerc was only 0.169 seconds behind, demonstrating the car’s competitive potential on Ferrari’s home soil. The strong performance gave the Tifosi plenty to cheer about during Friday morning practice.

FP2, however, told a different story. McLaren’s Lando Norris responded by topping the second session with a 0.083-second advantage over Leclerc in second place. Hamilton slipped to P5, finishing 0.192 seconds off the fastest time. Williams’ Carlos Sainz secured P3, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the top four, signaling that Ferrari would need to refine their setup to maintain a competitive edge for qualifying.

Ferrari’s Strategy and Low-Downforce Setup at Monza

The Maranello team arrived at Monza confident, taking advantage of the smooth track surface to run the SF-25 low to the ground without excessive wear on the floor plank. Leclerc is aiming to defend his 2024 Italian Grand Prix victory and potentially achieve back-to-back wins on the historic high-speed circuit. Both Leclerc and Hamilton were relying on Ferrari’s low-downforce rear wing, which the team believes could provide a competitive advantage on the long straights and fast corners of Monza.

Despite the promising pace, Friday’s sessions highlighted some areas for improvement. Leclerc ran wide exiting the second Lesmo corner during FP2, showing that even the Scuderia stars face challenges under pressure. A more surprising moment came later in the session when Leclerc experienced a rare lock-up at the Ascari Chicane, catching Sky Sports F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick off guard.

Leclerc’s Rare Lock-Up at Ascari Chicane

With just eight minutes remaining in FP2, Leclerc locked up at Turn 8, sending him through the gravel trap to avoid a more serious incident. Chadwick noted that this type of lock-up at Ascari is unusual, emphasizing that no other driver had shown a similar mistake at that corner during the weekend. She described how Leclerc managed to regain control quickly and continue without significant issues, highlighting the Monegasque driver’s skill in managing unexpected situations.

Monza Grid Penalties and FIA Investigations

While Leclerc’s lock-up was a minor setback, Hamilton faces a more significant challenge with a five-place grid penalty at Monza. The seven-time world champion received the penalty following a yellow-flag infringement at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, where he failed to slow sufficiently while approaching the pit entry during practice. This will add another layer of complexity to his Italian GP debut for Ferrari.

Leclerc also came under scrutiny during FP1 at Monza when he briefly overtook Nico Hulkenberg under red-flag conditions. The incident occurred near Turn 4 while Charles Leclerc was approaching Variante della Roggia at speed, as Isack Hadjar had caused a red flag after a gravel excursion at Ascari. The FIA stewards reviewed the situation but decided no further action was necessary, allowing the Monegasque to continue his preparation for the race without penalty.

Overall, Ferrari’s Friday at Monza showcased both their potential and the challenges ahead. While the SF-25 demonstrated competitive pace in low-downforce configuration, the team and drivers will need to refine their approach and manage technical and strategic challenges to remain in contention for a strong Italian Grand Prix result.