McLaren constructed recent momentum of their title cost going into qualifying with an FP3 one-two, whereas Lewis Hamilton bounced again to make the highest three.
Oscar Piastri topped FP3 from McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, whereas Lewis Hamilton – delay by a Mercedes sticker earlier within the session – unlocked efficiency from his equipment when others may to not leap up the order.
McLaren construct additional Constructors’ title momentum
For one last time in F1 2024, free observe was underway as the sunshine went inexperienced to get the one-hour session underway.
It was a sluggish begin to the on-track working with the solar nonetheless shining at Yas Marina Circuit, however Fernando Alonso was getting some early laps in as he declared a “good feeling” {that a} good day was forward, within the Aston Martin automobile which on Friday he known as the “worst ever”.
But it was Alpine’s Jack Doohan setting the early tempo on the smooth rubber, clocking a 1:25.633, whereas Hamilton, in his last observe session with Mercedes, was asking for a “each group wants a dream” sticker to be eliminated.
F1 2024: Team-mate head-to-head standings
👉 F1 2024: Head-to-head qualifying document between team-mates
👉 F1 2024: Head-to-head race statistics between team-mates
As the session strategy midway the perennial front-runners started to pop themselves onto the timing screens, nevertheless it was Haas as soon as extra wanting robust, Kevin Magnussen P1 and three-and-a-half tenths up on Norris, whereas Nico Hulkenberg was P3 within the different Haas, the place the place he completed on Friday.
Russell’s Mercedes in the meantime was feeling “fairly regular however sluggish” because the Brit struggled to flee the decrease reaches of the highest 10, whereas Zhou Guanyu was removed from impressed with Sergio Perez after encountering the slow-moving Red Bull Perez by way of Turn 3.
All the whereas, Verstappen – utilizing the medium rubber – improved to P2, quickly displaced by Sainz who went a tenth sooner on the identical compound.
It meant that with 20 minutes left to go within the session, we had a prime three of Magnussen from Sainz and Verstappen.
But Alex Albon would displace that trio with a brand new set of softs as he went P1 on a 1:24.378, slightly below a tenth sooner than Magnussen.
Here got here the competitors although with new softs of their very own, as Piastri moved himself as much as P1 with a 1:23.433, Norris slotting in two-tenths behind for a McLaren one-two whereas Verstappen jumped as much as P3, four-tenths off Piastri’s effort, having complained that his “brakes will not be working”.
Now it was the flip of the Ferraris, nevertheless it was P4 just for Sainz and P9 for Leclerc, a place and 0.002s behind Hamilton.
With the smooth rubber failing to hold on for a second push lap, that’s how the session would end as… Hang on, right here got here Hamilton, who discovered some further efficiency in his Mercedes as well Verstappen out of P3, whereas McLaren take the momentum into qualifying with the Constructors’ title on the road this weekend.
Full FP3 outcomes
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:23.433
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.193
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.390
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.411
5 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.438
6 George Russell Mercedes +0.642
7 Nico Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team +0.660
8 Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +0.661
9 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.665
10 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.850
11 Yuki Tsunoda RB +0.910
12 Alexander Albon Williams +0.945
13 Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.975
14 Jack Doohan Alpine +1.001
15 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.020
16 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber +1.046
17 Liam Lawson RB +1.086
18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.098
19 Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber +1.235
20 Franco Colapinto Williams +1.333
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