LANDO NORRIS put his engine blow-up in the Netherlands to one side to lead today’s practice for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.

Norris’s hopes of a maiden world championship were dealt a significant blow when mechanical gremlins struck in Zandvoort. He heads into this weekend’s 15th round of 24 trailing McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri by 34 points.

However, Norris delivered the best time of the day at Monza’s sun-soaked Temple of Speed with Piastri — fresh from winning his seventh race of the season last time out — only fourth.

Charles Leclerc took second place for Ferrari, one place ahead of the impressive Carlos Sainz in his Williams. Lewis Hamilton, on his debut for Ferrari in Monza, ended the day in fifth — two-tenths behind — after he had set the early pace in opening practice.

Norris attempted to put a brave face on his retirement from the Dutch Grand Prix when he conducted his media duties to preview this weekend’s event on Thursday.

But the British driver was clearly still feeling the pain of a DNF which puts him firmly on the backfoot in his bid to land a maiden world crown.

Yet, Norris will draw confidence from his form yesterday, and a strong showing from both Ferrari and Williams, as he bids to wrest the championship momentum back from team-mate Piastri.