Third Free Practice Report & Results 2024 Hungarian F1 GP

Event: Hungarian F1 Grand Prix
Track: Hungaroring circuit

Weather: dry  26.7°C
Tarmac: dry  39.8-37.2°C
Humidity : 44-42%
Wind : 3.6 km/h South

FP3 Report: 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix

The third practice session at the Hungaroring set the stage for an exciting qualifying showdown, with McLaren's Lando Norris once again demonstrating his fine form by topping the timesheets. Following his impressive performance in FP2, Norris continued his dominance, finishing FP3 just ahead of his teammate, Oscar Piastri. The duo showcased McLaren's strength, hinting at a possible intra-team battle for pole position later today.

Key Highlights from FP3

Norris Leads the Pack: Lando Norris clocked the fastest lap of the session, a 1:16.931, showcasing his exceptional pace despite a slight snap in the final corner. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, was close behind, just 0.044s adrift, solidifying McLaren's stronghold at the top.

Verstappen's Struggles: Max Verstappen had a challenging session, locking up and running wide just before the chequered flag. Despite these issues, he managed to secure third place, 0.281s off Norris's pace. Red Bull's setup tweaks and engine modes will be crucial for Verstappen to reclaim his top spot in qualifying.

Mercedes and Ferrari's Woes: Mercedes and Ferrari appeared to struggle throughout the session. Lewis Hamilton spun at Turn 9, fighting the car throughout the lap but avoiding the barriers. His teammate, George Russell, briefly topped the charts but was soon surpassed. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc also failed to impress, with Sainz finishing fifth and Leclerc down in tenth.

Midfield Surprises: The midfield teams delivered some impressive performances, with Daniel Ricciardo finishing sixth, Alex Albon seventh, and Nico Hulkenberg eighth. Yuki Tsunoda also showed promise, securing ninth place, indicating a competitive fight for Q3 spots.

Perez Off Pace: Sergio Perez had a disappointing session, ending up in 12th place, nearly nine-tenths off Norris's time. This was unexpected given his close performance to Verstappen in earlier sessions, raising concerns about his setup and pace.

Track Conditions and Strategy: The session took place under slightly cooler conditions compared to yesterday, with temperatures around 27°C. The softer C5 tyres played a pivotal role, but tyre degradation and managing the track temperatures will be critical in both qualifying and the race.

Quickest Sector Times

The quickest sector times during this third practice session where:

1. 27.677 sec. by Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
2. 27.865 sec. by Lando Norris (McLaren)
3. 22.492 sec. by Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

Looking Ahead to Qualifying

As we gear up for the qualifying session, all eyes will be on Lando Norris, who starts as the favorite for pole. The tight gaps and mixed performances suggest a thrilling session ahead, with McLaren looking to convert their practice dominance into a front-row lockout. Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari will be working hard to close the gap, while the midfield teams will aim to disrupt the established order.

1:17.811 min was the fastest lap time of last year's (wet) FP3 in Hungary. It was clocked by Lewis Hamilton with the Mercedes W15.

FP3 Times Table 2024 Hungarian GP

✅ Don't forget to check out our 2024 Hungarian F1 Grand Prix preview info.

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