Source – Inkl
During Friday’s third and last practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell took the lead, passing Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and McLaren competitor Oscar Piastri before a late red flag.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix continued to serve up drama and unpredictability as the third practice session unfolded under the floodlights. With temperatures remaining cold and the track conditions slippery, drivers found themselves navigating a challenging circuit where grip was at a premium. The early moments of the session highlighted these struggles, with Sergio Perez lamenting his initial run as being “miles off” the mark due to the lack of traction.
In the opening 20 minutes, only Perez and his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen ventured out for flying laps, cautiously working their way around the circuit on medium tyres. Their initial times in the 1m 41s range were far from competitive, but the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri quickly reset the benchmark. Both drivers bolted on soft tyres, with Piastri claiming an early lead with a 1m 35.759s lap that underlined McLaren’s sharp form.
As the session progressed, Kevin Magnussen delivered an unexpected turn of events by momentarily taking the top spot. The Haas driver posted a 1m 34.883s lap on soft tyres, placing himself ahead of Charles Leclerc, Nico Hulkenberg, and George Russell. Magnussen’s pace surprised many, considering Haas’s struggles for consistency throughout the season. However, Mercedes soon responded, with Russell clocking a 1m 34.475s and Lewis Hamilton lowering the time further to a 1m 34.341s, re-establishing the Silver Arrows’ dominance from earlier sessions.
While Mercedes surged, Verstappen continued to face issues. The reigning world champion described his Red Bull as “undriveable” and voiced concerns over a problematic left-front tyre. Frustration mounted as he warned his team that he was at risk of crashing if the handling didn’t improve. A visit to the garage and a change to soft tyres provided some relief, as Verstappen managed a 1m 34.137s lap. His car’s performance was described as “miles better,” allowing him to edge past the Mercedes duo briefly.
The action intensified as drivers prepared for final runs, but the session came to an abrupt halt with just seven minutes remaining. Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin suffered a power unit issue, forcing him to park at the side of the track. The ensuing red flag disrupted plans across the grid, leaving little time for further improvements once the session resumed. With a congested pit lane and limited opportunities for flying laps, several drivers, including Perez, missed the chance to complete their practice starts.
As the clock ran out, George Russell emerged as the fastest driver of FP3, setting a blistering 1m 33.570s lap to claim the top spot. Piastri continued to impress for McLaren, securing second place, while Carlos Sainz delivered a strong performance for Ferrari to finish third. Norris and Verstappen rounded out the top five, with Hamilton’s earlier pace fading slightly as he settled for sixth.
Williams drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto enjoyed a productive session, taking seventh and eighth positions, respectively. Magnussen’s earlier exploits placed him ninth, while Pierre Gasly’s consistent run for Alpine earned him tenth. Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missed out on the top ten, with Leclerc and Perez struggling to make a significant impact in 12th and 13th positions.
The lower half of the grid featured Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, and the Red Bull junior drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson. A near-miss between Tsunoda and Lawson in the closing moments added a touch of late drama. Meanwhile, the Kick Sauber pair of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, along with the sidelined Stroll, completed the order.
With the final practice session wrapped up, teams and drivers now turn their focus to the crucial qualifying session. Set to take place under the glittering lights of Las Vegas, it promises to deliver another captivating chapter in what has already been a weekend full of twists and turns.
