Lando Norris kept McLaren on top in FP3 of F1 Saudi Arabian GP ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, as George Russell put Mercedes ahead of Red Bull and Ferrari.
The drivers took it slow to start FP3 in F1 Saudi Arabian GP in the sunlight with plenty munching food rather than rushing out. There were handfuls who started their stint and went through their plans. Red Bull were shown working on Yuki Tsunoda’s car still after his wall brush in FP2.
Once they got going, drivers went for quick laps until the end, as there were moments of lock-ups and kerb run throughout the session from several drivers. It was McLaren on top, with Lando Norris leapfrogging Oscar Piastri by 0.024s margin after a late run to set a 1m27.489s lap.
Mercedes’ George Russell kept the team in the hunt in third ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who improved on his last attempt to dislodge Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. This dropped Williams’ Alexander Albon to sixth, as he had teammate Carlos Sainz with him in seventh.
Replays showed a scary avoiding from Leclerc as Albon went deep into Turn 1. The Williams duo, meanwhile, kept Alpine’s Pierre Gasly at bay in eighth, with Tsunoda in ninth after he was unable to improve on his last attempt. Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli rounded the Top 10.
Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar was 11th ahead of a struggling Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton, who did not feel as good on one lap pace. The other Visa Cash App RB of Liam Lawson was 13th ahead of the lead Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, who improved late in the session.
Alpine’s Jack Doohan was 15th from the lead Haas of Oliver Bearman and lead Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg, with Haas’ Esteban Ocon in 18th from Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who improved on his last lap to demote Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll to 20th in the order.
The PU elements list saw the Ferrari pair of Leclerc and Hamilton take up their second set of ICE, TC, MGU-H and MGU-K. Here: https://www.fia.com/system/files/decision-document/2025_saudi_arabian_grand_prix_-_new_pu_elements_for_this_competition_0.pdf
Here’s what was said after Friday in F1 Saudi Arabian GP
