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Ferrari made a flying start to their home Italian Formula One Grand Prix Friday but McLaren's title contender Lando Norris, bouncing back from the body blow of car failure in the previous race, set the practice pace.The Briton lapped Monza's sunlit 'Pista Magica' with a best lap of one minute 19.878 seconds in the afternoon's second session, 0.083 quicker than Ferrari's 2024 winner Charles Leclerc. Norris is 34 points behind championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri with runaway leaders McLaren chasing a sixth win in a row on Sunday.Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was third fastest for Williams with Piastri fourth and Ferrari's seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton fifth. Hamilton, making his first Monza appearance in Ferrari red, and Leclerc had delighted the Ferrari fans with a surprise one-two in first practice.Five-times Italian GP winner Hamilton's leading time then was 1:20.117, with Leclerc 0.169 slower. "The mood in general is very good, and we had a positive push from the tifosi (fans) all week, from Monday morning in front of the factory. This is an extra energy and a good one," said Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur.Hamilton has yet to stand on the podium for Ferrari and it was a morale boost for the team after a double blank in the Netherlands last weekend when both cars crashed. Hamilton will carry a five-place grid penalty into Sunday's race from Zandvoort.Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen was sixth fastest in session two after ending opening practice fourth with Norris sixth. Piastri sat out first practice, as Irish Formula Two contender Alex Dunne took his place, fulfilling part of the team's young driver commitments, and ended up 16th.Alex Albon was seventh fastest for Williams in both sessions. Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Mercedes' George Russell completed the top 10 in the second session. Racing Bulls' French rookie Isack Hadjar, who took his first F1 podium in last weekend's Dutch race, was 10th and 11th respectively.He triggered a red flag in first practice when he went off at the Ascari Chicane with 25 minutes to go and scattered gravel across the track. Alpine had Estonian reserve driver Paul Aron replacing Argentina's Franco Colapinto for the first session and he finished last. Colapinto was also last when he returned to action.

Lusail International Circuit (LIC) has revealed the official key visual for the Formula 1® Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025, capturing the energy, speed, and spirit of the event set for November 28–30.The artwork showcases the Qatar Formula 1 car in its bold and unique national colors, a bold reflection of Qatar’s presence on the global motorsport stage. Speeding through LIC’s iconic building, the car blazes a trail of light and color, symbolizing the sheer speed and adrenaline of Formula 1®.Local cultural elements are also woven into the artwork, with Saadu-inspired curb designs stretched along the track and a dramatic Doha skyline backdrop, blending tradition with modernity.Front and center is the tagline “Where Hearts Are Racing”—a campaign platform carried forward from 2024. More than a slogan, it reflects how motorsport has become deeply rooted in Qatari society and how Lusail International Circuit seeks to connect the emotions of the drivers on track with the fans in the grandstands.Whether it’s the thrill of watching Formula 1 live for the first time, witnessing the Sprint Race, cheering on the next generation through Formula 2, or simply soaking up the electric atmosphere of race weekend, “Where Hearts Are Racing” is a promise that every moment at LIC creates lasting memories.It underscores the circuit’s role as a world-class hub for motorsport and as a destination where passion, culture, and performance come together on and off the track.With British singer Seal — renowned for his soulful music — confirmed as Friday night’s headlining artist and more exciting news still to come, anticipation is building towards one of the most thrilling weekends of the year.Tickets have seen record demand, with the Main Grandstand and 3-day General Admissions already sold out. However, fans can still secure their spot with tickets available for the North Grandstand, T2, T3, and T16 Grandstands, as well as single-day Lusail Hill General Admission. Prices begin at QR200 for single-day General Admission, while three-day Grandstand access starts from QR1,000.Premium experiences also remain available, including hospitality and VIP packages designed to bring fans closer to the thrill of Formula 1 as anticipation grows for the return of Formula 1 to Qatar.