Source – Formula1.com
The Dutch Grand Prix’s third and final practice had Alpine’s Pierre Gasly lead Haas competitor Kevin Magnussen and Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas; however, a significant collision involving departing Williams driver Logan Sargeant significantly disrupted the session and shuffled the order.
The final practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was a thrilling blend of unpredictability, drama, and pure racing skill as the skies once again opened up, drenching the narrow and twisty circuit. Friday’s mixed conditions had already hinted at the challenges to come, but FP3 truly tested the drivers as they navigated a track soaked by persistent rain. The gusty winds from the previous day had somewhat calmed, but the treacherous conditions remained a significant concern.
As the session began at 11:30 local time, it was immediately clear that the wet tyres would be the order of the day. The Haas duo of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen wasted no time, venturing onto the slippery track as soon as the green light signaled the start. Both were eager to make up for lost time after a challenging Friday, particularly Hulkenberg, who had suffered a crash in FP2.
The early minutes of the session saw a cautious approach from most teams, but Oscar Piastri broke ranks by opting for intermediate tyres. The Australian’s bravery was evident as he wrestled with his McLaren, slipping and sliding around the circuit. His efforts were rewarded with the first timed lap of the session, a 1m 24.176s, although it was a full 15 seconds slower than the dry FP2 benchmark set the previous day.
However, the drama soon escalated when Hulkenberg, still finding his feet after Friday’s mishap, suffered another unsettling moment. As he approached Turn 11, his Haas skidded under braking, sending him straight into the barriers. The German’s frustration was palpable as he reported the incident over the radio, lamenting that it was “again the same as yesterday.” He explained that a lock-up under braking had caused the crash, which left his car with a damaged front wing. Hulkenberg’s return to the pits in an unsafe condition did not go unnoticed by the stewards, who noted the infraction.
As the session continued, the slippery conditions took their toll on several other drivers. Magnussen and George Russell both had offs at Turn 1, while Fernando Alonso took an unexpected trip through the gravel, further underlining the difficulty of the wet track. The tension reached a peak when Logan Sargeant, pushing his Williams to the limit, ran wide over the kerb at Turn 3. A wheel dipped onto the grass, unsettling the car and sending it careening across the track before slamming violently into the barriers. The heavy impact brought out the red flags, halting the session as marshals rushed to clear the debris and assess the damage.
Sargeant, fortunately, emerged unscathed, but the incident left his Williams team facing a daunting repair job ahead of the afternoon’s qualifying session. Meanwhile, Alonso had briefly topped the timesheets with a 1m 21.461s on intermediate tyres, just before Sargeant’s crash brought proceedings to a halt. The session remained suspended for several minutes as marshals worked to restore the track, leaving drivers and teams anxiously waiting in the pits.
Finally, after a heroic effort from the marshals, the session resumed at 12:28 local time with only two minutes remaining. The pit lane erupted into a flurry of activity as teams scrambled to send their cars back out for a last-gasp attempt at setting a competitive time. The slightly improved conditions allowed for a late burst of speed, and in the final moments, Pierre Gasly emerged as the fastest driver, clocking a 1m 20.311s on intermediates. Magnussen, despite his earlier scare, secured second place with a time of 1m 20.450s, while Valtteri Bottas rounded out the top three with a 1m 21.155s.
Lando Norris delivered a strong performance for McLaren, finishing fourth, just ahead of Alonso, who had to settle for fifth after his earlier top spot. Esteban Ocon placed his Alpine in sixth, followed by Piastri, who had set the early pace. Lance Stroll, Hulkenberg, and Carlos Sainz completed the top ten, with Sainz recovering from a gearbox issue that had hampered his running on Friday.
Further down the order, Zhou Guanyu placed his Kick Sauber in 11th, just ahead of the sidelined Sargeant, whose earlier crash left him with no opportunity to improve. The Mercedes duo of Russell and Lewis Hamilton found themselves mired in the midfield, sandwiching Alex Albon’s Williams between them in 13th to 15th positions. Charles Leclerc, struggling to find pace in the difficult conditions, wound up 16th.
Max Verstappen, the home crowd’s favorite, had a session to forget. Not only did he fail to post a competitive time, but he was also noted by the stewards for potentially breaching the Race Director’s instructions after appearing to cross the white line at the pit exit during the frantic final minutes. His 17th-place finish was a surprising sight, especially given his dominance in recent years. The Red Bull pair of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda, along with Sergio Perez, joined Verstappen at the bottom of the timesheets, with neither Ricciardo nor Tsunoda managing to set a time.
As the session drew to a close, teams and drivers faced a short but crucial break to analyze the data and make the necessary adjustments ahead of what promises to be a challenging qualifying session. The Zandvoort Circuit, already notorious for its narrow confines and lack of overtaking opportunities, has been made even more treacherous by the unpredictable weather. With rain potentially continuing into the afternoon, the fight for pole position is set to be a thrilling and nerve-wracking affair. For Hulkenberg, Sargeant, and others who found themselves in the wars during FP3, the challenge will be to regroup quickly and put their earlier misfortunes behind them. The stage is set for an electrifying qualifying session as the Dutch Grand Prix weekend reaches its crescendo.
