After securing a 1-2 finish in FP1 and FP2, McLaren entered FP3 at Emilia Romagna with hopes of maintaining their strong form ahead of qualifying this afternoon.
Lando Norris was the first to head out onto the track, taking an exploratory lap during the opening minutes of FP3. However, it was Lewis Hamilton who set the first timed lap of the session, ten minutes in, running on medium tyres.
With 45 minutes remaining in the session, the rest of the grid made their way onto the track to begin setting their laps.
When asked who he believed the team’s main rivals were, VCARB team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports from the Pit Wall:
“Williams was really fast yesterday, and Pierre was really fast as well. So we think they are our main rivals.”
Hadjar to the Top!
Isack Hadjar produced an impressive lap to go to the top of the timing screens. He edged ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari by just 0.021 seconds with a time of 1:15.508. However, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen soon went quicker, pushing Hadjar down to third.
With half an hour remaining, George Russell came over the radio to report the bouncing he was experiencing. However, he assured the team that it was not affecting his ability to drive.
A Hefty Spin for Lawson
A temporary yellow flag was brought out after Liam Lawson had a massive spin caused by clipping the curb. This resulted in significant flat spots on his tyres. Consequently, he was forced to abandon his lap and slowly made his way back to the pits.
In the final 15 minutes, the drivers switched to soft tyres to complete some practice qualifying laps. Oscar Piastri had a minor moment, running wide in one corner. The incident slightly hindered his ability to improve his lap time. Similarly, the inconsistent cloud coverage across the circuit made conditions tricky. This resulted in several drivers struggling in various sectors and running wide, much like Piastri.
With five minutes remaining, Norris took an unexpected trip into the gravel, leaving the floor of his car and the wheels completely covered in gravel dust.
McLaren continued their strong form, once again securing a 1-2 finish on the timing screens. This time, however, it was Lando Norris who claimed P1, with Oscar Piastri right behind in P2.
Make sure to tune in this afternoon to see if McLaren can claim a 1-2 in Imola Qualifying.
Featured Image Credit: EverythingF1
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