Lando Norris leads McLaren 1-2 in final practice ahead of Saudi Arabian GP qualifying
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Lando Norris set the pace in the third and final practice session at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, edging out his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.024 seconds, while George Russell claimed the third-fastest time.
FP3 unfolded under warm 30-degree conditions as drivers took to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for their last opportunity to refine setups before qualifying. The session began at 4:30 PM local time as the sun dipped towards the horizon, creating an atmospheric backdrop for the high-stakes action.
While most of the grid opted to remain in the garages early in the session, Gabriel Bortoleto took to the track immediately, seeking redemption after a fuel leak disrupted his FP2 efforts. Jack Doohan was the first driver to complete a lap on the Pirelli soft tires, joined shortly afterward by Haas duo Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman, as Aston Martin rolled out Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll on medium compounds.
Lewis Hamilton emerged 10 minutes into the session, hoping overnight adjustments would resolve the issues that hampered him on Friday. Despite falling 0.115 seconds short of Bearman's initial benchmark, Hamilton edged half a tenth clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who endured a close call with the final corner wall thanks to some dramatic oversteer.
As the session gained momentum, lap times tumbled. McLaren teammates Piastri and Norris initially led proceedings before reigning champion Max Verstappen surged to the top by just 0.045 seconds. With drivers refining their runs on soft tires and finding time on subsequent laps, traffic in the tight confines of the street circuit became a growing concern—Isack Hadjar’s progress was compromised when he encountered a slower car, highlighting one of the challenges awaiting during qualifying.
Teams were mindful of yellow or red flag interruptions as they dispatched drivers for their second efforts on fresh soft tires with 17 minutes to go. George Russell momentarily claimed the top spot with a 1:28.214 lap before Piastri raised the bar with a blistering 1:27.513. Norris then reversed the order in the closing minutes, clocking a session-best 1:27.489 to lead the McLaren charge.
Russell improved late in the session to solidify third place, while Verstappen, aided by a tow, settled for fourth—0.845 seconds adrift of Norris. Hamilton struggled in his second runs, placing 12th, four tenths behind a promising fifth-place finish from Leclerc. "Q3 is looking like a challenge," Hamilton admitted earlier in the weekend, with his FP3 results reinforcing those concerns.
Williams continued their strong form in Jeddah, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz securing sixth and seventh, respectively, while Pierre Gasly—tops in FP1—maintained his top-10 streak. Yuki Tsunoda recovered from his FP2 crash to claim ninth, trailing Norris by 1.181 seconds but keeping within 0.3 seconds of teammate Verstappen.
The conclusion of FP3 marks a key turning point in the weekend as drivers prepare for the all-important Saudi Arabian GP qualifying session, slated for 8:00 PM local time. With McLaren topping the timesheets and Mercedes still hunting for answers, the stage is set for an exciting evening under the lights in Jeddah.
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