FP3: Norris heads a dominant McLaren one-two at Imola, Verstappen impresses with improved performance
Having dominated the opening two practice sessions, McLaren continued to set the pace in the third and final practice for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri set the benchmark in both Friday’s practice sessions, but the third and final session saw his team-mate Lando Norris go quickest with a time of 1m 14.897s.
Max Verstappen looked to struggle for pace yesterday, but the reigning champion was definitely in a much better shape today. The Dutchman took third to become the only non-McLaren driver within two-tenths of the papaya cars.
Home favourite Andrea Kimi Antonelli appeared to lack pace on the mediums, but a brilliant lap on the softs saw him jump up the order to take fourth.
Ferrari drivers Charlec Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were the most diligent drivers of the session, having racked up a total of 49 laps.
Although they looked strong on the yellow-walled mediums, they struggled to extract the best lap time on the C6 compound that is making its race debut this weekend.
The Monegasque ended up fifth with a late push lap that was his third flying lap on the C6 while his seven-time champion team-mate was left in P10.
On the back of a strong showing on Friday, Carlos Sainz put his Williams into P6, while Isack Hadjar, George Russell, Alex Albon and Hamilton completed the top 10 order.
Running an upgraded car this weekend, Fernando Alonso claimed P11 while his team-mate Lance Stroll took 13th.
Haas driver Oliver Bearman, who is the only driver to use a new power unit this weekend, ended up in P12, while Liam Lawson and yesterday’s front runner Pierre Gasly taking 14th and 15th respectively.
Gabriel Bortoleto – who suffered a crash on Friday at the end of FP1 – was 16th in the Kick Sauber, followed by Yuki Tsunoda, who complained about a lack of grip in his car.
Returning to the F1 paddock as a race driver this weekend, Franco Colapinto ended up 18th fastest for Alpine, with Nico Hulkenberg and the Haas of Esteban Ocon bringing up the rear of the field.
