SAUDI ARABIAN GP – Lando Norris a quarter of a tenth faster than Oscar Piastri in third practice
Lando Norris was fastest in third practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix the McLaren driver set a 27.489 to put himself a quarter of a tenth faster than his teammate Oscar Piastri. George Russell put his Mercedes third fastest going six-tenths behind the McLarens.
McLaren have looked quick all weekend in Jeddah as Norris looks to recover from what he called a messy weekend in Sakhir, the Englishman moved himself ahead on their final qualifying sim which moved them both clear ahead of the Mercedes. Norris’s time being a tenth faster than Max Verstappen’s pole time last year.
Piastri had actually appeared the faster of the McLarens throughout the session but made an error on his final attempt at a flying lap, while Norris improved to move to the top of the timesheet. On Thursday, Norris admitted on Thursday that he has had to change his driving style to adapt to the characteristics of McLaren’s 2025 car.
Russell was over six tenths off making McLaren firm favourites for pole, though the advantage may be bigger than expected due to the late afternoon conditions and it will be a lot cooler for qualifying. Max Verstappen was over three-tenths behind the Mercedes thanks to a late improvement, but he didn’t complete as many laps after “weird engine braking”.
One of the interesting things during the final practice session was that the second hot lap on the tyres was looking faster. That could be a headache in qualifying because of traffic and the increased risk of yellow and red flags, but the final practice passed without incident.
Ferrari also appeared to have the stronger pace, well in the hands of Charles Leclerc who was just under four hundredths behind Verstappen. The Monacan meanwhile was just under nine-tenths off the outright pace set by Norris. Williams’s strong pace continued, Alex Albon was just under two hundredths behind Leclerc and eight-tenths behind Norris as he went a tenth faster than teammate Carlos Sainz.
Pierre Gasly put his Alpine eighth going just under half a tenth ahead of his former teammate Yuki Tsunoda with Kimi Antonelli completing the top ten. The top ten were slightly more spread out than in recent races as was the cut off for Q3, with Antonelli was nearly a tenth faster than Isack Hadjar with Lewis Hamilton a hundredth further behind.
Fernando Alonso put his Aston Martin fourteenth going a hundredth ahead of Jack Doohan, while Ollie Bearman was just under a tenth further behind. Nico Hulkenberg split the Haas he was over two tenths behind the Englishman as he went over a tenth faster than Esteban Ocon.
Gabriel Bortoleto wads over half a tenth ahead of Lance Stroll to complete the field.