Source – Planetf1.com
During final practice, Ferrari was left “nowhere” while Piastri and Norris led the leaderboard.
The final free practice session of the 2023 Formula 1 season unfolded under the dazzling Yas Marina lights, and it was Oscar Piastri who claimed center stage, leading a commanding McLaren 1-2. With his teammate Lando Norris close behind, Piastri’s stellar performance sent a powerful message to the grid, leaving Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen trailing in third and fourth, respectively. Ferrari, meanwhile, found themselves in a state of despair, struggling for answers as Charles Leclerc lamented their lackluster pace, calling the Scuderia “nowhere” in the fight for the constructors’ championship.
The session began with a subdued pace as teams hesitated to commit early, resulting in only the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso taking to the track for slow installation laps. As the clock ticked down, Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan ventured out, laying down early markers. Gasly’s Alpine scraped sparks off the kerbs, a dramatic sight but not one that translated into lasting competitiveness. Stroll soon reclaimed the spotlight with a modest 1m25.528s, only for Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu and Haas’s Kevin Magnussen to steadily chip away at the times.
Magnussen briefly held the top spot with a 1m24.470s, setting the stage for a series of quick-fire changes. Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz entered the fray on medium tires, but it was Alex Albon who delivered a surprise punch. The Williams driver vaulted into the lead with a 1m24.378s, igniting a tense battle as the session reached its final third.
Then came McLaren’s moment of dominance. George Russell had nudged ahead for Mercedes with a 1m24.075s, but his time was obliterated by Oscar Piastri’s searing 1m23.433s. The Australian rookie displayed remarkable control and precision, widening the gap to his teammate Norris, who struggled with oversteer in key corners. Norris managed to secure second place, nearly two-tenths behind Piastri, cementing McLaren’s authority in the session.
While Piastri and Norris showcased McLaren’s resurgence, Lewis Hamilton mounted a late charge on worn soft tires. The seven-time world champion squeezed ahead of Verstappen to claim third, finishing 0.390s behind Piastri. Despite his best efforts, Verstappen’s Red Bull lacked the cutting edge needed to topple the McLarens.
Behind the top four, Ferrari’s woes became increasingly apparent. Carlos Sainz ended fifth, unable to match McLaren’s pace, while Leclerc languished in ninth. Burdened with a 10-place grid penalty for the race, Leclerc cut a dejected figure, openly admitting that Ferrari was “nowhere” in its pursuit of McLaren in the constructors’ standings.
The Haas duo of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen capitalized on a late soft-tire push, claiming sixth and seventh positions, respectively. Hulkenberg edged his teammate with a late flyer, showcasing Haas’s incremental progress. Sergio Perez rounded out the top ten for Red Bull, a performance that failed to spark much optimism ahead of qualifying.
As the sun sets on practice and attention turns to the season’s final qualifying session, all eyes will be on McLaren. Their formidable display in FP3 positions them as the team to beat, a stark contrast to Ferrari’s ongoing struggles and Mercedes’ late rally. For Piastri, it marks another step in a season defined by rapid growth and unyielding determination, setting the stage for a thrilling climax at Yas Marina.
