Lando Norris outpaced his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to secure the fastest time during the final practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, showcasing a remarkable display of speed that saw the McLaren duo clock in over 0.6 seconds quicker than any other competitor on the track. The third practice session, held in the sweltering afternoon heat, recorded a track temperature of a staggering 115 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considerably higher than what teams usually encounter during race conditions.
Norris’s impressive lap time of 1 minute 27.489 seconds was just a hair’s breadth away from surpassing the pole time set by Max Verstappen in 2024, falling short by a mere 0.017 seconds. Piastri, who was closely shadowing his teammate, finished only 0.024 seconds behind, indicating that McLaren was in a league of its own during this session. Piastri had been on track to finish the session atop the leaderboard after his final run on fresh soft tires, but Norris managed to extract an additional 0.182 seconds from his slightly used tires, allowing him to snatch the top position with an impressive final sector performance.
In an attempt to reclaim the top spot, Piastri made a run on his used tires but ultimately had to abandon his effort after losing control, which disrupted his lap. Following the McLaren duo, George Russell from Mercedes finished in third place, but his time was 0.627 seconds slower than Norris’s impressive effort. The times among the remaining drivers in the top ten were more closely packed, highlighting the competitive nature of the midfield.
Max Verstappen managed to secure the fourth position with a late effort on older tires, which placed him 0.845 seconds off the leading pace after a session filled with technical issues, including problems related to engine braking. He displaced Charles Leclerc, who settled for fifth place, trailing Verstappen by just 0.038 seconds. Leclerc communicated over the radio at the conclusion of the session, expressing his belief that they had extracted the maximum potential from the Ferrari under the challenging warm conditions.
In the midfield battle, Williams teammates Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz stood out, finishing 0.9 seconds and 1.081 seconds off the leading pace, respectively. Their performances secured them the top honors within the midfield, ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who was 1.136 seconds slower than Norris’s benchmark. Meanwhile, repairs on Yuki Tsunoda’s car, following a late crash in FP2, continued until nearly halfway through the session. Tsunoda was grateful to his team for their hard work, as he joined the action with about 35 minutes remaining on the clock.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli rounded out the top ten for Mercedes, while Isack Hadjar managed to navigate a water bottle issue on his way to an 11th-place finish. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, expressed a mix of confusion and disappointment over his performance, which saw him 0.408 seconds behind his teammate Leclerc and a significant 1.291 seconds off the top spot. Hamilton’s struggles were palpable, as he continues to grapple with the challenges of his car’s performance.
Liam Lawson finished in 13th place, followed closely by Fernando Alonso and Jack Doohan. The latter two were set to face the stewards later in the day due to an infraction involving an early crossing of the white pit lane entry line during the session. Oliver Bearman placed 16th, preceding Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon, who both fell short of their teams’ expectations.
Gabriel Bortoleto, having missed FP2 due to a fuel leak, faced a challenging session as he aimed to recover lost time. Despite completing a session-high 24 laps, he found himself at the bottom of the timesheet, finishing just ahead of Lance Stroll. The Brazilian’s efforts to make up for lost running highlighted the challenges that drivers face when trying to adapt to new conditions, especially after missing a crucial practice session.
Overall, the final practice session served as a crucial indicator of team performances ahead of the race. With McLaren showing clear dominance, and various teams battling for midfield supremacy, the stage was set for an exciting race at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Each driver and team will be looking to capitalize on their strengths and address any weaknesses exposed during practice as they prepare for the competitive environment that awaits them on race day. As the season progresses, the insights gained from these practice sessions will play a pivotal role in shaping strategies and decisions for the teams and drivers alike.
