Everything Trackside

Driven by the fans, for the fans

A 1-2 finish for McLaren in FP3, Oscar Piastri ahead of Norris

Jamie Cooper Avatar
Jamie Cooper
, , , , ,

Photo Credit: McLaren Racing

The third practice session for the Imola GP was underway, with Lando Norris as the first driver out. Norris was followed by Lance Stroll, Oscar Piastri and Fernando Alonso.

Pirelli had chosen to go for the soft tyres this weekend, with the C3, C4 and C5 rubber. The softs were holding out alright for multiple push laps yesterday.

Both Red Bulls decided to go out on the medium compound tyres, while Alonso and Stroll have already made the switch from mediums to hards.

The early times are in

The first times came in, and Carlos Sainz topped the sheets with a 1:17.444s, two tenths ahead of Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen.

Red Bull had to use this session to understand their car. The fuelled up, ready to go for multiple lap runs. Verstappen improved to second, just behind Leclerc.

There was no overnight rain, so the track still had plenty of rubber. However, a few drivers opted to sit out the early laps, allowing others to lay down more rubber.

It was a good start for both Ferrari drivers. Leclerc managed to make it on top, but his lap was scrappy, dipping a wheel in the gravel. Leclerc’s tyres were eight laps old. He slowed down for a cool-down lap, while a few more drivers joined the action.

Coming from yesterday, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon opted to go out on the mediums after mixed results. Both drivers struggled with the bumpy nature of the track.

Lewis Hamilton joined the pack with the softs. Although Hamilton won Imola in 2020, he’s never had pole here. The new upgrades Mercedes brought looked good in yesterday’s session, but the true test will be in the qualifying session later today.

Ferrari took 1-2

The Ferrari boys seem to be enjoying Imola as they exchange the fastest laps. Sainz returned to P1 by 0.020s. Whatever set-up he opted for today, seems to be doing the job for Sainz.

George Russell made his way out on the softs, along with Alex Albon, who recently announced his contract extension with Williams.

Hamilton was informed that he was two seconds behind Sainz.

“Two seconds?!” he replied incredulously. “Where is that two seconds, man?”

“Point eight is in a straight line,” Bono replied. More concerning for Hamilton, Russell was eight tenths ahead.

With the first 30 minutes almost up, all the cars were out on track, with Piastri and Yuki Tsunoda yet to set times.

Red Flag—Alonso crashed into the wall

Alonso crashed into the wall at the final corner, bringing the red flag straight out.

The replay showed Alonso fighting the car into Rivazza, with understeer and going in wide, his rear stepped out. This led him to slide backwards into the backwards into the barriers, hitting with both the rear and front wing.

The main concern will be the gearbox, as well as upgrades, Aston Martin may not carry more of.

The session resumed

With the red flag period over, Ferrari were still leading 1-2, with Sainz in front.

Oscar Piastri finally set a time and made P3, 0.190s behind Sainz, and a tenth ahead of Verstappen. Meanwhile, Tsunoda was in P15 on the mediums.

Piastri had to abort his second push lap, as he ran into the gravel at Rivazza. The was no damage, as he was able to continue.

Albon had opted for a fresh set of soft tyres for quick runs and was joined by Tsunoda and Stroll, whilst everyone else was in the pits, preparing for hot laps.

The track was hot

Logan Sargeant and Valtteri Bottas joined Albon on fresh softs. Albon’s first quick lap pushed him up to P6, four tenths behind Sainzs’ P1 time. Sergeant improved from P12 to ninth.

Bottas jumped ahead of Sergeant in the top 10.

The final 10 minutes

After Alonso’s earlier crash, Stroll’s data will play an important role for the team. He was off in the first two sectors and only improved to seventh, behind Albon.

Mercedes and McLaren come out again with eight minutes left in the session.

Pérez hits the wall

Red Bull’s Pérez hit the wall at turn 15 and the red flags were back out.

After taking too much kerb, he lost control of the car, but heavily braked as he went straight into the gravel and hit the barriers with his front wing.

Only two minutes left

The session resumed with just two minutes left to get a lap in. With a big queue at the end of the pit lane, some drivers had to miss out.

Norris was the first driver out, raising his chances of getting a timed lap in, before the chequered flag.

Unlucky for Bottas, as he came out too late. He had to take the flag and get to practice starts.

A 1-2 finish for McLaren

The final moments saw Leclerc and Piastri tangled up, ruining any attempt at a quick lap. Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo did not make it in time, along with Nico Hülkenberg.

Oscar Piastri improved and made it on top, just ahead of Norris, Sainz and Leclerc.

That is P1 for Oscar Piastri; however, he has been noted for his weaving behind Gasly. Ricciardo, Tsunoda and Magnussen have also been noted for impeding, with Magnussen having to run wide, to avoid a collision.

[adrotate banner=”6″]

Get 10% off all official F1 Merch at TheRaceWorks.com using code ‘EF1’ at checkout.