Monza, FP3: Hamilton Leads Mercedes F1 One-Two Ahead of Qualifying

Hamilton and Mercedes take the lead in Italy’s FP3, with the top five drivers separated by just 0.145 seconds.

The Italian Grand Prix witnessed its final free practice session this Saturday noon. Amidst persistently warm and sunny conditions, drivers had the opportunity to fine-tune their vehicles in preparation for the qualifying round.

Kevin Magnussen was the first to set a time, clocking a 1’21″774 on soft tyres. Max Verstappen soon surpassed this with a medium tyre run of 1’21″560, while Sergio Pérez secured second place, just 0.102 seconds behind.

George Russell improved on this with a 1’21″169 on mediums, significantly ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who slotted in just behind him. Oscar Piastri then took the lead, posting a 1’20″887 on soft tyres. Verstappen, still on mediums, narrowed the gap to the Australian to just 63 milliseconds.

Lando Norris moved to the front with a 1’20″787 on soft tyres. Franco Colapinto placed tenth on his first fast lap on soft tyres. Nico Hülkenberg took seventh place, quickly overtaken by Alex Albon.

Charles Leclerc then accelerated to 1’20″614. Piastri was on a promising lap before running wide at Lesmo 2. Subsequently, it was Albon who took the lead with a 1’20″596. With just over 20 minutes left in the session, Carlos Sainz topped the charts with a 1’20″463, with Leclerc slotting between him and Albon.

Russell once again complained of an overheated seat, an issue both he and Hamilton had raised the previous day. Mercedes appears to be racing against time to resolve this before the 300-kilometre race tomorrow.

Leclerc claimed the top spot with a 1’20″226, with Colapinto in eighth. With 15 minutes to go, the Red Bull drivers were outside the top 8, having not set times on soft tyres. Norris squeezed between the Ferraris, just 0.036 seconds off Leclerc. Piastri then edged ahead of Norris, 26 milliseconds behind Leclerc.

Russell took the lead with a 1’20″210, quickly bested by Hamilton with a 1’20″117. Verstappen, on his first soft tyre stint, could only manage sixth, two-tenths off the pace, and reported difficulty navigating the turns effectively.

The top five were separated by just 145 milliseconds, with Sainz in seventh, 346 milliseconds off the pace. Pérez abandoned his first fast lap following a chicane error and remained 16th, without a soft tyre time.

Hamilton and Russell thus positioned the Mercedes at the forefront ahead of qualifying, ahead of Leclerc. Piastri and Norris are in close contention for McLaren, while Verstappen is sixth, just a tenth behind the Brit. Albon and Colapinto line up for Williams ahead of Hülkenberg. Alonso is 11th, Gasly 14th, and Ocon 17th. Pérez finishes 18th, just ahead of the Stake drivers.

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Hamilton Spearheads Mercedes 1-2 in Tense Italy FP3 Hamilton Spearheads Mercedes 1-2 in Tense Italy FP3