Mexico, FP3: Piastri and McLaren Assert Dominance Before Qualifying

Piastri leads McLaren’s charge in FP3, with four teams poised for a competitive qualifying session at the Mexico Grand Prix.

After a rather eventful first day, the drivers reconvened at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for a third practice session, this time under overcast skies, a change from the sunny conditions of the earlier sessions.

Mercedes faced the challenge of replacing George Russell’s chassis following his crash yesterday, though the gearbox and engine remained intact. The team confirmed the use of a curfew exemption to reassemble the car.

At Red Bull, the engine issue on Max Verstappen’s car persisted, prompting the team to install an older engine from the Dutchman’s parts pool into the RB20, adorned with the number 1.

Max Verstappen quickly took the lead with a time of 1’18″329, while the Alpine F1 drivers took turns holding second place before Lewis Hamilton moved into the runner-up spot. George Russell then clocked the fastest lap with a 1’18″284.

Carlos Sainz went quicker with a time of 1’17″825, only for his teammate Charles Leclerc to better it with a 1’17″616. However, the Spaniard responded with a 1’17″447, underscoring Ferrari’s strong performance this Saturday.

In a surprising twist, the Haas drivers managed to secure places in the top 10 on medium tyres, while the other drivers in the upper half of the standings used soft tyres. Nico Hülkenberg, however, reported discomfort with his brake pedal.

Sainz impeded Oscar Piastri during one of his hot laps while on a cool-down lap to the pits. The Ferrari driver made a late decision that obstructed his rival, prompting Piastri’s criticism: “That’s typical Carlos.”

The McLaren drivers later occupied third and fourth positions, temporarily ahead of Sergio Pérez, the Mercedes duo, the Haas drivers, and Verstappen, who found himself near the bottom of the top 10 midway through the session.

Yuki Tsunoda, who had been third in the previous two sessions, once again held this spot temporarily, and notably, he was running on medium tyres. Leclerc improved with a 1’17″432, immediately surpassed by Sainz’s 1’17″334.

Albon moved into third on soft tyres, while Verstappen then set the fastest lap with a 1’17″003. Shortly after, Lando Norris outpaced him with a 1’16″551. Oscar Piastri confirmed McLaren’s strong form by setting the fastest time of 1’16″492, while Hamilton edged ahead of the Ferraris to secure fourth place.

Verstappen expressed frustration with his car: “It’s not working, damn it. I have no grip at the front or the rear.” Meanwhile, Pérez made two mistakes on track, further highlighting the struggles with the RB20.

The drivers returned to the circuit for a final push with their fast laps, but the standings remained unchanged. Piastri finished at the top, followed by Norris, Sainz, Verstappen, and Hamilton. Once again, four teams occupied the top five positions, with Leclerc in sixth and Tsunoda maintaining his strong form just behind.

The presence of a Haas and Lawson in the top 10 is noteworthy, while the Williams drivers followed, separated by an impressive Bottas, who has shown strong form this weekend. Pérez could only manage 14th, just ahead of Alonso, while the Alpine drivers remained at the back of the field, focusing primarily on race preparation.

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Four Teams Battle for Supremacy in Mexico’s Top 5 Showdown Four Teams Battle for Supremacy in Mexico’s Top 5 Showdown