Of all the classification sessions of Formula 1, few equal to that of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. It is played between walls, leaves moments for history as the return that ‘was not’ of Verstappen in 2021. It promises to always be matched and will be again, although there are favorites that will arrive with conviction and a smile from ear to ear. The same ones that have the best concept of the course, McLaren. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri warn the world.
PIASTRI leaves box.mclaren F1
The McLaren took their gunpowder when the temperature fell from the free 3 and was mounted new rubber. The battle seemed closed until Norris and Piastri opened fire against the rest. First it was Piastri and after cooling Norris repeated. They went down to 1: 27,489 and sent others to more than half a second. If they are real records, the fight will only be between two cars. Because the good feeling of Verstappen or Leclerc became more than six tenths. And that is no drill.
Because Saturday in Jeddah is a key day. It is a high -speed circuit, more than six kilometers and three DRS areas, but there are few braking to make differences or advance. Therefore, the starting position is vital and it is something that everyone takes as a final. Although not from a third free session where the track temperature (52º c) is about 14 or 16 degrees hotter than will be at the time of the qualy. Although notes can be taken.
On the one hand, it serves more than anything to ‘study’ last minute ‘those who have pending tasks. Doohan did it, also Haas working on the front axle or a Red Bull who was still working in Yuki Tsunoda’s car after Friday’s night accident. The best did not appear until Ferrari gave way to Hamilton and Leclerc with soft. His sensations are different, and at night they are candidates to bother the favorite McLaren.
Red Bull works in Tsunoda’s car. TV chart
That is still, even more. In the FP3 it is played with different gasoline loads and improvement of the brutal track after each return, but McLaren repeated the feeling of Friday. Things come out of natural things and more because they had something saved. First, Leclerc and Verstappen were placed two tenths, but the decisive game was the reality bath that many did not expect. One that makes almost inevitable the dreaded double of Woking.
McLaren’s notice
The McLaren notice exists after an unexpected blow. With too worrying differences. With the new games, the two pilots of the British team threw and the differences came to light. Piastri burst the border of the 27 media, and Norris improved it (27,489) shortly after after cooling the rubber. He was able to neutralize his deficiencies in the first sector and capable of matching the risk of Australian in the decisive zone.
The others did not leave the same turn as McLaren and it is something that worries. More to Max Verstappen, lowering his comfort and suffering with the Red Bull-motor brake. Leclerc did not finish flowing and was even seen behind George Russell. He even recognized it. “This is the limit of the car, I can’t go faster,” he explained. McLaren, on the contrary, everything gets easy. It’s worrying.
This is the limit of the car, I can’t go faster
Charles Leclerc
Sainz, candidate
The one who repeated good moment was Carlos Sainz. On this occasion Albon surpassed on a border of a tenth (7th, 1: 28,570), but Williams continues to behave with any tire. They beat Gasly and Alpine, which works well, and can even sneak into the two pilots with more doubts in the upper area. Tsunoda, after the last -minute Red Bull arrangements. And a gray Antonelli during all sessions.
Fernando Alonso, on the other hand, was seen again in the same place as the entire Grand Prix. 14º, with a registration 28,888. The AMR25 seemed somewhat more stable and the Asturian work with a program in which he changed front wing and tried to attack with soft rubber. He does not paint well, although his hands always leave him in an unreal place.
Free 3 classification of Saudi Arabia GP
1 – Norris – 1: 27: 489
2 – PIASTRI +0.024
3 – Russell +0.627
4 – Verstappen +0.845
5 – LECLERC +0.883
6 – ALBON +0.900
7 – Sainz +1.081
8 – Gasly +1.136
9 – Tsunoda +1.181
10 – Antonelli +1.190
11 – Hadjar +1.280
12 – Hamilton +1.291
13 – Lawson +1.372
14 – Alonso +1.399
15 – DOOHAN +1.399
16 – Bearman +1.500
17 – Hulkenberg +1.731
18 – OCON +1.847
19 – Bortoleto +1.921
20 – Stroll +1.989