Oscar Piastri topped the timings with a 1:23.433 in F1 FP3 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP. Teammate Lando Norris was behind with a 1:23.626 and Lewis Hamilton was P3 with a 1:23.823.
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Green Light
As the clock struck 14:30 local time, the session was underway.
However, all was quiet on the track, with no rush to get on track as conditions were far from representative than what they will be in qualifying later.
The Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were first on track for their installation laps.
Alonso said he thought it was going to be “a good day”, a stark contrast from yesterday, where the Spanish driver voiced that the AMR24 was the “worst car ever.”
The Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan were next to leave their garages on the Soft tyres.
Gasly set the first timed lap, a 1:24.040, although he went wide on the exit of Turn 5.
Teammate Doohan quickly replaced him with a 1:25.633, with this being the Australian’s first ever FP3 session.
A new fastest lap was then set by Stroll, with a 1:25.528.
More Cars On Track
With 45 minutes of the session remaining, more cars finally made their way onto the track.
This included Charles Leclerc, the McLaren duo and the Haas duo.
Zhou Guanyu set the new fastest lap with a 1:25.496 for Sauber in his last weekend with the team.
The Haas duo then went to the top, with a 1:24.470 for Kevin Magnussen and a 1:24.937 for Nico Hulkenberg.
Lando Norris also set his first timed lap on the Soft tyres, going into P2 with a 1:24.812.
Red Bull On The Board
Championship winner Max Verstappen was the first Red Bull to set his timed lap on the Medium compound, going into P6 with a 1:24.985.
Sergio Perez went into P7 on the Soft compound with a 1:25.072.
30 Minutes Remaining…
In his last weekend with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton went P4 with a 1:24.941.
The Haas drivers were still looking strong in P1 and P3, with Norris breaking up the duo in P2.
George voiced that the car was “very slow”, with the British driver dead last on the leaderboard.
Verstappen bettered his time on the Medium compound, going to P2 with a 1:24.733.
Ferrari In Trouble?
The Ferrari of Carlos Sainz seemed to be emitting smoke from the back of the car, with the driver returning to the pits.
This comes after the news that teammate Leclerc will take a 10-place grid penalty this weekend for taking a new battery pack.
Therefore, extra elements for Sainz could seal the Constructors’ title for McLaren.
Although, Sainz immediately returned to the track, with the issue not appearing too critical at this stage.
The Spanish driver went into P2 with a 1:24.631.
20 Minutes Remaining…
Sainz and Verstappen were the closest challengers to the Haas of Magnussen in P1.
The Williams of Alex Albon then leaped to the top with a 1:24.378, having previously sat in P12.
However, the Thai driver still appeared unhappy, stating that “the balance shifted like crazy on that lap.”
Final Runs
Russell topped the timings with a 1:24.075 for Mercedes.
He was quickly replaced by Piastri with a 1:23.433 for McLaren, with teammate Norris slotting in behind with a 1:23.626.
Verstappen voiced that his “brakes are not working” yet managed to put his Red Bull into P3 with a 1:23.844.
Leclerc stated that the Ferrari is “nowhere” when Piastri’s lap time was relayed to him over the radio, with the Constructors’ seemingly slipping away.
With just over a minute remaining, Hamilton went P3 with a 1:23.823 after setting three personal best sectors.
It was a McLaren 1-2 once again. Oscar Piastri topped the timings with a 1:23.433, with teammate Lando Norris behind with a 1:23.626. Lewis Hamilton was P3 with a 1:23.823 in F1 FP3 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP.
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