In a session dominated by persistent rain and gusty winds, Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver in FP3, showcasing not only skill but tactical brilliance. The McLaren driver managed to harness the tricky track conditions to set a benchmark time, edging out reigning champion Max Verstappen by a mere 0.127 seconds. As teams scrambled to find the optimal setup, several mid-field contenders demonstrated impressive pace, highlighting that variable weather injects unpredictability into the weekend’s pace chart.

Key takeaways from the session included:

  • Multiple red flags hampering running and strategic planning
  • Tyre choice playing a critical role, with wet compounds outperforming intermediates
  • Surprising resilience from some backmarkers who closed the gap despite conditions
Driver Team Best Time Gap (s) Tyre Used
Lando Norris McLaren 1:28.672 0.000 Wet
Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:28.799 +0.127 Wet
George Russell Mercedes 1:29.102 +0.430 Wet
Esteban Ocon Alpine 1:29.210 +0.538 Wet