Formula 1 News: Hamilton Sets the Pace in FP3 as Drivers Battle for Top Spot

In the first completely dry session of the weekend, Formula 1 drivers were eager to log valuable mileage on the medium tyre. Sergio Perez and Pierre Gasly set the initial benchmarks, but an unwelcome pause in running due to Zhou Guanyu’s spin at Turn 2 halted proceedings. The Alfa Romeo driver lost control of his car, sending it backwards into the grass.

When the session resumed, Max Verstappen put his Red Bull at the top with a 1m15.495s, only to be beaten by Fernando Alonso’s 1m14.870s on the hard tyre. The Aston Martin driver then improved to a 1m14.445s, marking the end of the medium-tyre runs. The focus shifted to soft-tyre runs, preparing for the qualifying session.

Logan Sargeant briefly led the charge with a 1m14.355s, but George Russell soon took the top spot. Alex Albon then dipped below the 74-second mark, and further improvements emerged. Charles Leclerc briefly held the top spot before being displaced by Lewis Hamilton, who took the lead with an impressive 1m12.549s, giving him a 0.725s advantage over his Mercedes teammate Russell.

“Hamilton’s time remained unbeaten for most of the session, with few drivers able to get close.”

However, Russell narrowed the gap to within half a second before being surpassed by Verstappen, who set a 1m12.923s despite touching the Turn 14 wall. Verstappen still trailed Hamilton by 0.374s.

Lance Stroll secured fourth place, the only other driver within half a second of Hamilton. Oscar Piastri took fifth position, ahead of compatriot Daniel Ricciardo. Lando Norris and Alonso followed, with Perez and Leclerc rounding out the top 10. Notably, Leclerc struggled with his Ferrari, finding it “slow” in the opening corners and losing 0.3s in the left-right complex.

Today, the drivers are gearing up for a highly competitive qualifying session, and with the top runners separated by mere tenths of a second, it’s shaping up to be an intense battle for pole position. Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news and updates on the Formula 1 standings as the weekend unfolds.

Formula 1 Tyres Play Crucial Role in FP3

Formula 1 tyres played a crucial role in FP3, with the medium and soft compounds offering different challenges and opportunities for the drivers. As the teams analyze their data and prepare for the qualifying session, one thing is certain – it’s going to be a thrilling ride.

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