Oscar Piastri Clinches Top Spot in FP3 at Spanish Grand Prix
Barcelona, Spain – Oscar Piastri delivered a stellar performance, securing the top position in the final practice session ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, marking a strong showing for McLaren across all practice sessions.
The session commenced slowly due to the midday heat, with Carlos Sainz leading early on in his Williams before being overtaken by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who clocked a lap time of 1:13.941 on soft tires. However, Mercedes’ George Russell quickly rose to the challenge, posting a blistering 1:13.396, four-tenths faster than Leclerc.
As the session progressed, Max Verstappen in his Red Bull edged past Russell with a lap time of 1:13.375, showcasing exceptional speed in the final sector of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Despite a moment of uncertainty for Lando Norris, who struggled with porpoising, Piastri seized control in the latter stages, setting a fastest lap of 1:12.387—an impressive half-second clear of his teammate.
Norris concluded the session in second place with a time of 1:12.913, while Leclerc rounded out the top three, seven-tenths behind Piastri. Russell and Verstappen followed, without further attempts for improvement as the session came to a close.
Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso continued to push their boundaries, securing sixth and eighth positions, respectively. Lewis Hamilton faced difficulties, finishing ninth with a notable 1.1 seconds deficit compared to Piastri. Alex Albon managed only five laps due to an issue with his Williams’ braking system.
FP3 Results Summary
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:12.387
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:12.913
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:13.634
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:13.396
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:13.375
As teams finalize their setups, all eyes will now turn to the qualifying session, where strategies and timing will be tested further.
