Max Verstappen demonstrated his speed and skill in the final practice session before qualifying for the upcoming race. The Red Bull driver set an impressive lap time of 1m35.912s, putting him at the top of the timesheets and ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez by 0.3s. Verstappen’s time could not be beaten, even by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who fell just half a tenth short in each sector of the lap.
Hamilton’s mixed performance
Lewis Hamilton, driving a Mercedes with a new floor aimed at assessing progress for the future, showed strong pace in the first sectors of the lap but struggled in the final part. As a result, he finished a tenth behind Leclerc and two-hundredths ahead of Perez. Despite his mixed performance, Hamilton remains a formidable contender for pole position in qualifying.
Surprising Haas performance
Kevin Magnussen delivered an unexpectedly strong performance in his upgraded Haas car, securing fifth place on the timing boards. The team’s new downwashing sidepods, following the trend set by other teams, seem to have improved the performance of the car. Magnussen’s performance was particularly impressive considering his slim margin of 0.002s ahead of George Russell in the Mercedes.
Alex Albon, who recently returned to Formula 1 as a reserve driver for Williams, showcased his skills with a solid seventh-place finish. Despite struggling with track limits and surpassing them multiple times during practice, Albon managed to secure a competitive position on the timing boards.
Challenges for Sainz and Alonso
Carlos Sainz, driving for Ferrari, faced difficulties with the bumpy circuit. The stiffly sprung Ferrari made it challenging for Sainz to find the optimal line and rhythm. As a result, he finished just behind Albon in eighth place. Fernando Alonso, driving for Alpine, also struggled and ended the practice session in 18th place. Alonso relied solely on the hard compound tires throughout the session, managing to set a time but failing to secure a higher position.
Daniel Ricciardo returned to his AlphaTauri seat after missing the previous five races due to a hand injury sustained in a crash during practice at Zandvoort. Ricciardo’s comeback was solid, finishing ahead of his teammate Yuki Tsunoda in 14th place. Rookie drivers Zhou Guanyu for Alfa Romeo and Oscar Piastri for McLaren showed promise but encountered some challenges. Zhou finished in 16th place, while Piastri narrowly avoided an off-track moment but still managed to bring his car to 19th place.
Lance Stroll faced significant issues with the braking system in his Aston Martin, significantly compromising his practice session. The left front wheel problems restricted Stroll to just two laps, leaving him with limited data and preparation for the upcoming qualifying session.
Max Verstappen proved to be the standout driver in the final practice session, showcasing his pace and ability to set the fastest lap time. However, competition remains fierce, with Hamilton, Leclerc, and Perez all within striking distance. The session also revealed both positive and negative surprises, highlighting the importance of car upgrades and driver adaptability. As fans eagerly await qualifying, the stage is set for a thrilling battle in the quest for pole position.
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