Mexico City Grand Prix FP3 Report
Lando Norris Dominates FP3 Ahead of Qualifying
Lando Norris showcased a commanding performance in the final practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, setting the fastest time of 1m16.633s and establishing a lead of 0.345 seconds over his closest competitor. The McLaren driver achieved this benchmark on a single run on soft tires, marking him as a frontrunner heading into qualifying.
Competitive Times and Key Results
- Norris: 1m16.633s
- Lewis Hamilton: 0.345s behind, finishing in second place; noted for a slower final sector.
- George Russell: Completed the top three with a time 0.512s off Norris.
- Charles Leclerc: Registered fourth, only 0.054s behind Russell.
- Oscar Piastri: Fifth, trailing Leclerc by 0.033s, struggled particularly in the middle sector where he lost crucial time.
- Max Verstappen: Sixth, just 0.01s behind Piastri, had a challenging session with grip issues, stating over team radio, “No grip, front and rear.”
Kimi Antonelli locked in seventh place, narrowly missing out on Verstappen, while Isack Hadjar led the midfield in eighth. Yuki Tsunoda and Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top ten, with Bortoleto finishing 0.893s off the pace.
Technical Insights
Red Bull Racing implemented significant changes to Verstappen’s RB21, indicated by the application of flow-vis paint on the rear wing to enhance grip and improve race pace. Despite this, the adjustments resulted in compromised single-lap performance. Both Williams drivers, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, struggled with braking zones; Albon ultimately encountered a power unit failure.
Noteworthy Incidents
Fernando Alonso’s session concluded prematurely due to technical issues, preventing him from setting a competitive lap. Liam Lawson finished 11th, while Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Colapinto faced their own challenges, finishing towards the back.
As the teams prepare for qualifying, Norris’s dominant display signals a strong possibility for McLaren as they aim for a competitive grid position.
