FP3: Verstappen heads dominant Red Bull one-two in final practice

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen set the benchmark in the final practice on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz having struggled for tempo in the essential session forward of qualifying.

Max Verstappen led the best way early on regardless of utilizing the Pirelli’s arduous compound, demostrating his RB19’s eye-catching aerodynamic effectivity. The Dutchman then set a 1m28.485s on the red-walled tyres to go the final session forward of his teammate Sergio Perez.

The Mexican endured mechanical woes yesterday, and was hopeful to shut the hole to Verstappen on Saturday, however the first indications present that he misplaced additional connection to the reigning champion because the pair was separated by over six tenths of a second.

Aston Martin continued the place they left off yesterday with Fernando ALonso and Lance Stroll occupying the third and fourth spot on the timesheets respectively.

It was a way more promising session for Lewis Hamilton as he rounded out the highest 5 whereas his workforce mate George Russell took P11, however they had been solely separated by two tenths of a second.

Following a raft of technical issues at spherical one of many 2023 F1 season, McLaren displayed good efficiency in the final session. Lando Norris set the seventh quickest time along with his rookie workforce mate Oscar Piastri ended up P8, racking up a powerful mileage with 23 laps.

As for Ferrari, the Scuderia had one other low-key session with each of their driver seemingly stuggling for tempo. The Italians left it late to set consultant qualifying runs on gentle tyres, with Charles Leclerc leaping to sixth total and Carlos Sainz rounding out the highest 10. Leclerc nevertheless has a 10-place grid penalty to take care of.

After displaying increcidble one-lap tempo yesterday, Alpine began the final practice in a robust trend, however Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon completed the 60-minute practice solely in P9 and P14 respectively in the ultra-tight mid-field battle.

Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen took P13 and P17 for Haas respectively forward of Ala Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas- The AlphaTauris rounded out the timesheets with Yuki Tsunoda nineteenth on medium compounds and Nyck de Vries twentieth having did not set a time resulting from an influence unit subject.