McLaren Dominates FP3; Verstappen Trails in Third

Norris tops FP3 in Hungary, with McLaren showing strength and Verstappen trailing significantly in third.

Under a grey sky, the third free practice session for the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix took place at the Hungaroring circuit, with no threat of rain. The air temperature hovered around 26 degrees Celsius, while the track warmed up to 39 degrees Celsius as the session began.

Sergio Pérez set the initial pace with a time of 1’19″159 on hard tyres, only to be surpassed by his teammate Max Verstappen, who clocked 1’18″897 on the same white-walled tyres during his first fast lap.

Verstappen improved further to 1’18″312, with the pair from the Austrian team remaining the only drivers to have set a time. Pérez also bettered his time. During the first quarter-hour, drivers were not rushing out, and the reigning triple world champion was the only one circulating.

Verstappen then bettered his time again to 1’17″938. After 15 minutes, Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll finally ventured out. Ocon slotted in behind on soft tyres, shortly followed by Alex Albon, who topped the timesheets with 1’17″646.

George Russell then claimed the fastest time with 1’17″560, while Logan Sargeant positioned himself fourth. All these drivers were on soft tyres, unlike the Red Bulls. Fernando Alonso placed fifth on medium tyres.

Lando Norris set the benchmark with 1’16″931, and Oscar Piastri placed the second McLaren in second position, both on soft tyres. Nico Hülkenberg recorded the fifth-fastest time, and Lewis Hamilton slotted in third between Piastri and Russell. Kevin Magnussen recorded the eighth time.

The Ferraris appeared off the pace, with Carlos Sainz in ninth and Charles Leclerc 18th. Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda placed the two RB F1s in second and third, between the McLarens. Like Leclerc before him, Pierre Gasly locked his wheel at the first corner.

Shortly after hindering a Haas, and despite a minor scare at turn 4, Sainz moved up to second, three-tenths off Norris. Russell managed to match Norris’s time and took the lead with a lap of 1’16″826. Leclerc moved up to fourth.

Mid-session, Verstappen and Pérez had still not switched to soft or medium tyres, nor had Alonso and Stroll put on the red-walled tyres. Piastri moved up to third.

Russell improved again to 1’16″654, and Hamilton was just two-tenths behind. The cooler temperatures compared to the previous day were clearly aiding the W15, although this cooling was not expected to last into the weekend.

But Norris struck back, reclaiming the top spot with a 1’16″098. Albon took third, six-tenths behind the McLaren driver. Piastri was second, just 0.044 seconds off his teammate, confirming McLaren’s strong form.

With less than fifteen minutes to the end of the session, several drivers were on track, and Verstappen went out on soft tyres. The Dutchman placed third, nearly three-tenths behind Norris. Sainz recorded the fifth time, and Leclerc the tenth. Ricciardo moved up to sixth.

In his final lap, Verstappen missed the first corner, ending his last attempt, and no one could challenge the two McLarens, who sent a strong signal ahead of the qualifying.

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Norris Leads FP3 Verstappen Lags in Hungary Norris Leads FP3 Verstappen Lags in Hungary