Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz led a thrilling third practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix.
- Four drivers were within a whisker of each other, finishing within a tenth of a second.
- Carlos Sainz outpaced Lando Norris and Max Verstappen in the closing stages.
- Tensions ran high with on-track spats between drivers including Leclerc and Norris.
- Incidents on the track could lead to potential investigations by stewards.
Carlos Sainz brought excitement to the Barcelona track, leading the charge for Ferrari and sealing the fastest time in the third practice session with an impressive 1:13.013. The session was highly competitive, with Sainz narrowly edging out Lando Norris, who had been on top just minutes before. Sainz’s lead was only 0.030 seconds, highlighting the fierce competition as Max Verstappen followed closely, trailing by just 0.074 seconds.
Despite the predictions favoring Max Verstappen’s RB20 on this track, the expected dominance was not evident. Verstappen’s performance was solid, yet he couldn’t top Sainz. Charles Leclerc, who had shown remarkable speed in the first two sectors, struggled to maintain his momentum towards the end due to battling windy conditions that affected his car’s performance. This led to Leclerc finishing behind both Sainz and Norris.
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton secured fifth and sixth places, respectively. However, Hamilton’s encounter with a gravel trap might have hindered his performance. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez’s Red Bull made an impact as he finished in seventh, with Alex Albon of Williams surprising many by finishing eighth, hinting at a potential strong showing in qualifying.
The session wasn’t without drama as tempers flared, notably when Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris tangled. Leclerc, feeling obstructed, aggressively crowded Norris, which could attract scrutiny from the racing stewards. Similarly, Lance Stroll’s confrontation with Lewis Hamilton, where Stroll attempted to crowd Hamilton off the track, added to the tension. Moreover, a messy situation at Turn 10 saw drivers on hot laps clashing with those on cooldown laps, adding to the list of potential investigations.
The third practice at the Spanish Grand Prix set a dramatic tone for the weekend.
