Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Free Practice 3: McLaren confirms, Hamilton in the mix, Ferrari struggling
Oscar Piastri sets the fastest time of this final practice session of the season. Lando Norris is just behind, and Lewis Hamilton completes the top 3. This session has provided interesting insights into the battles for the constructors' championship.
As in free practice 2 yesterday, the McLarens are the fastest. Ferrari seems unable to challenge them for the constructors’ title. On Alpine’s side, the start of the weekend is complicated. Pierre Gasly is not in the rhythm of recent weeks.
The course of the session
The drivers are not in a hurry to head out on the track. It’s 2:30 pm local time and 11:30 am in France for this final practice session of the season. The race and qualifying will take place later in the day, with track temperatures much cooler than they are now. The drivers are gradually setting off: first the Aston Martins, then the Alpines. It’s 20 minutes after the green light at the start of the session that all drivers have set a time.
McLaren above the fray, the Ferraris out of the top 3.
The two drivers take their time to show up in this session. But from their first laps, we can feel them in another world, unreachable or almost, while Ferrari is struggling more. Charles Leclerc is only 9th at the end of the session and gets frustrated on the radio: “We are nowhere”. Carlos Sainz is 5th.
Lewis Hamilton, in a good rhythm since the start of the weekend in Abu Dhabi, is the only one slightly getting closer to the McLarens. The British driver really wants to do well for his last Grand Prix with Mercedes. He achieves the 3rd best time of the session.
Haas in shape, Pierre Gasly is looking for the right formula.
Danish driver Kevin Magnussen sets a very fast lap just before the halfway point of the session. A time that holds for a long time, beaten 15 minutes before the end of the session by Alexander Albon. The Haas cars are very fast on the straights and will be competitive this weekend. Watch out for Alpine, the French team has only a 5-point lead before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Indeed, Pierre Gasly is not satisfied with the settings of his single-seater. Despite successive improvements, both Alpines are consistently behind the Haas cars. A positive point for the French team: Jack Doohan seems to be adapting well, as he is running at the same time as his teammate. Maintaining sixth place in the constructor’s championship will be a real challenge for Alpine this weekend.
The session ranking
| N° | Driver | Team | Times | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piastri | McLaren F1 Team | 1:23.433 | 16 | |
| 2 | Norris | McLaren F1 Team | 1:23.626 | +0.193 | 15 |
| 3 | Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport | 1:23.823 | +0.390 | 18 |
| 4 | Verstappen | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:23.844 | +0.411 | 17 |
| 5 | Sainz | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:23.871 | +0.438 | 21 |
| 6 | Russell | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport | 1:24.075 | +0.642 | 18 |
| 7 | Hülkenberg | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1:24.093 | +0.660 | 14 |
| 8 | Magnussen | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1:24.094 | +0.661 | 14 |
| 9 | Leclerc | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:24.098 | +0.665 | 20 |
| 10 | Perez | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:24.283 | +0.850 | 17 |
| 11 | Tsunoda | Visa Cash App RB F1 Team | 1:24.343 | +0.910 | 18 |
| 12 | Albon | Williams Racing | 1:24.378 | +0.945 | 15 |
| 13 | Gasly | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1:24.408 | +0.975 | 17 |
| 14 | Doohan | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1:24.434 | +1.001 | 17 |
| 15 | Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team | 1:24.453 | +1.020 | 19 |
| 16 | Bottas | Stake F1 Team | 1:24.479 | +1.046 | 16 |
| 17 | Lawson | Visa Cash App RB F1 Team | 1:24.519 | +1.086 | 19 |
| 18 | Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team | 1:24.531 | +1.098 | 20 |
| 19 | Guanyu | Stake F1 Team | 1:24.668 | +1.235 | 16 |
| 20 | Colapinto | Williams Racing | 1:24.766 | +1.333 | 15 |
