Leclerc only 21 thousandths behind Norris: Excitement before the home Grand Prix!

Leclerc only 21 thousandths behind Norris: Excitement before the home Grand Prix!

The Formula 1 World Championship is in full swing and the excitement is rapidly building, especially ahead of Ferrari's upcoming home Grand Prix. On September 6, 2025, Charles Leclerc narrowly missed first place in the last free practice session by just 21 thousandths of a second. The fastest driver that day was Lando Norris in the McLaren, who impressively demonstrated his strength.

Oscar Piastri, Norris' teammate, followed him in third place and leads the drivers' championship with a lead of 34 points over Norris. Max Verstappen, four-time world champion, took fourth place in training, while George Russell took fifth place in the Mercedes. The top five were close together, with less than two tenths of a second separating the drivers. Lewis Hamilton, the experienced Brit, finished training in seventh place, while Nico Hülkenberg took eleventh place in the Sauber. The race takes place on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

McLaren's challenges and opportunities

In recent races, McLaren has experienced both ups and downs. Norris commented on the double burden that comes with his team's dominance - both a blessing and a curse. In the final event, the Dutch Grand Prix, his car broke down while chasing Piastri, who won the race, extending his lead in the overall standings. Norris, who secured a solid second place finish, knows he can't leave anything to chance in the remaining nine races if he wants to keep his chance at the title.

The team has currently collected a strong 584 points in the constructors' championship, which means a significant lead of 324 points over second-placed Ferrari. Norris' technical breakdown in the Dutch Grand Prix was his second of the season and came after a series of over 60 races without any technical problems. He sees this setback as unfortunate, while Piastri points out that everything can change quickly in driving and you shouldn't rest on your laurels.

A look at the statistics

The Formula 1 statistics offer interesting insights that make the current situation all the more exciting. The largest points lead by a world champion was achieved by Max Verstappen in 2023 with 290 points. This season, however, things are much more exciting. Leclerc and Ferrari are still in a promising position, even if recent training results have been mixed.

• Die meisten Siege in Folge: 10 (Max Verstappen, 2023)
• Die meisten Punkteplatzierungen in Folge: 48 (Lewis Hamilton, 2018–2020)
• Die meisten Zielankünfte in einer Saison: 24 (Oscar Piastri, 2024)

With less than two tenths of a second separating the best drivers, the upcoming race is sure to be a thrilling spectacle. It remains to be seen who can win the race. In any case, the fans are once again ready for an exciting duel on the track, where every moment counts and the smallest mistakes can turn the tide.

After the exciting training and the final modifications, everyone is looking forward to Sunday, when the race starts at 3 p.m. The requirements are clear: every driver has to give their best in order not to lose out in the fight for the title.

Wesermarsch district newspaper reports that Charles Leclerc finished just 21 thousandths of a second behind Norris, while AP News describes the challenges facing the McLaren drivers in detail. Provides a comprehensive overview of the current statistics Wikipedia and shows how the history of Formula 1 has developed over the years.