Lando Norris kept McLaren on top in FP3 of F1 Imola GP ahead of Oscar Piastri, as Max Verstappen was third amid soft tyre troubles.
It was a steady start to FP3 in F1 Imola GP as teams took it slow initially. The kerb run continued throughout the session, with Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson taking a spin midway in the run at the same corner as his teammate Isack Hadjar went off in FP2.
McLaren’s Lando Norris too went through the gravel towards the end of the session, while the likes of Hadjar, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ George Russell went through the gravel at the side in the final corner. Finding time on the soft compound became troublesome for everybody.
Even if they found time on the C6 compound, it was not as much as they hoped for. The hotter conditions didn’t help either. In all of this, McLaren ended up 1-2 still with Norris on top with a 1m14.897s from teammate Oscar Piastri, who was fastest in both FP1 and FP2 on Friday.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third but his best effort came on the medium compound, ahead of Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who found some time after tough Friday. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also managed to improve late in the session to fifth from Williams’ Carlos Sainz.
Visa Cash App RB’s Hadjar was seventh from Russell and Williams’ Alexander Albon – all of whom had their best time on the medium tyre. The Top 10 was rounded out by Ferrari’s Hamilton from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who had the updates on his car as well after testing done by Lance Stroll.
The Canadian was 13th behind Haas’ Oliver Bearman, who continued to show better pace unlike teammate Esteban Ocon. Lawson was 14th from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda only 17th after his best time on the medium compound.
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was 18th from Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Ocon to round out the 20 drivers. In terms of the PU elements, Colapinto took his third ICE and fourth TC and MGU-H. Additionally, both he and Gasly took their third MGU-K.
Here’s PU element list: https://www.fia.com/system/files/decision-document/2025_emilia_romagna_grand_prix_-_new_pu_elements_for_this_competition_0.pdf
Here’s what was said after Friday in F1 Imola GP
