Austrian Grand Prix: Norris Tops Final Practice Ahead of Qualifying
Lando Norris concluded the final practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix with a blistering lap time of 1m 4.324s, narrowly edging out teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.118 seconds. The McLaren duo led a competitive field, with three teams separated by only 0.25 seconds ahead of qualifying.
Norris set the fastest time during the final 15 minutes of FP3, posting three purple sectors, although Piastri claimed the fastest first sector before suffering delays due to a cautious final segment. Norris attempted to improve on his time but encountered issues at Turn 3, forcing him to abandon his lap after riding over the curbs.
In preparation for qualifying, Norris experienced an unusual post-session inspection, with the right side of his front wing covered in flow-vis paint as McLaren evaluated new components.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing finished the session closely behind, just 0.21 seconds off Norris’s pace. Although he faced some early difficulties with a nervous rear axle during a long race simulation on hard tires, he switched to softs to improve his time. His session included a spin at the final corner, though he avoided any damage to his car.
Charles Leclerc delivered a solid performance for Ferrari, clocking in only 0.25 seconds behind Norris, while teammate Lewis Hamilton followed closely in fifth, 0.216 seconds off the pace. Meanwhile, George Russell struggled in comparison, finishing 0.694 seconds slower than Norris, while teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli was 0.035 seconds further back.
Lance Stroll led the midfield in eighth, dividing the Red Bull drivers, with Yuki Tsunoda in ninth—0.605 seconds slower than Verstappen. Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top ten with his upgraded Sauber.
Other notable results included Liam Lawson in 11th, with Fernando Alonso, Nico Hülkenberg, Alex Albon, and Carlos Sainz following closely. Franco Colapinto managed to place 19th, but notably improved upon his previous day’s performance, finishing only 0.18 seconds behind teammate Pierre Gasly.
The stage is set for an exciting qualifying session as teams prepare to determine the starting grid for the race.
