Third Free Practice Report & Results 2024 Italian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Italian Grand Prix
Track: Monza Circuit

Weather: dry  31.9°C
Tarmac: dry  45.9°C
Humidity : 41.0%
Wind : 4.3 km/h South

Mercedes Dominates as Hamilton Tops FP3 at Monza

The third and final practice session for the 2024 Italian Grand Prix at Monza saw Lewis Hamilton set the pace, showcasing Mercedes' resurgence just in time for qualifying. With the scorching Italian sun beating down on the historic circuit, teams took to the track in their final bid to fine-tune setups ahead of the all-important qualifying session.

Hamilton Sets the Benchmark

Lewis Hamilton led the charge for Mercedes, clocking a best lap time of 1m 20.117s. This time was over a tenth faster than the pole time from last year, signaling a significant improvement for the Silver Arrows, who have struggled at times this season. George Russell made it a Mercedes one-two, finishing just behind Hamilton, indicating that the team is back in contention after a difficult weekend at Zandvoort.

Ferrari and McLaren Show Promise

Ferrari, buoyed by the passionate Tifosi and a raft of new upgrades, appeared to be in the mix for pole position. Charles Leclerc ended the session in third, while Carlos Sainz also showed competitive pace before both drivers aborted their final laps. The team is confident heading into qualifying, with their performance in the early part of FP3 indicating they could challenge for the front row.

McLaren, too, demonstrated strong form. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were both near the top of the timesheets throughout the session. Piastri briefly held the fastest time before Hamilton's late charge, while Norris was just a fraction behind. McLaren’s consistent performance suggests they will be serious contenders in the fight for pole.

Halfway Order

The halfway top 10 order during this third and final practice was:

1. Chalres Leclerc, Ferrari #16 - 1.20614 min. (soft tyres)
2. George Russell, Mercedes #63 +0.092 sec. (medium tyres)
3. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari #55 +0.128 sec. (soft tyres)
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes #44 +0.152 sec. (medium tyres)
5. Lando Norris, McLaren #4 +0.173 sec. (soft tyres)
6. Oscar Piastri, McLaren #81 +0.245 sec. (soft tyres)
7. Max Verstappen, Red Bull #1 +0.336 sec. (medium tyres)
8. Alex Albon, Williams #23 +0.546 sec. (soft tyres)
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas #27 +0.594 sec. (soft tyres)
10. Sergio Pérez, Red Bull #11 +0.673 sec. (medium tyres)

Red Bull’s Struggles Continue

In a surprising turn of events, Red Bull seemed to be on the back foot during FP3. Max Verstappen struggled with understeer and was unable to match the pace of the front-runners, finishing in sixth. Sergio Perez fared even worse, languishing down in 18th after reporting recurring issues with his car. The team will need to make significant improvements if they are to compete for pole position later today.

Haas Faces Late Setback

Kevin Magnussen’s session ended on a sour note as the Danish driver was forced to stop his Haas on track after the chequered flag due to an unspecified reliability issue. This follows a challenging weekend for Haas, who had to rebuild Magnussen’s car after a crash in FP2. The team now faces a race against time to have the car ready for qualifying.

Colapinto Impresses Again

Rookie Franco Colapinto continued to impress for Williams, securing ninth place in the session. The young driver has been turning heads with his performances and is steadily making a case for a full-time seat in Formula 1. His ability to consistently perform in the top 10 is a promising sign for the future.

Qualifying Set to be a Thriller

With six cars from Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren all looking strong, and the possibility of Red Bull bouncing back, the stage is set for a thrilling qualifying session. The tow will play a crucial role at Monza, and with such a tight field, strategy and timing will be key. Fans can expect a fierce battle for pole position, with the potential for surprises.

Quickest Sector Times

The quickest sector times during FP1 were:

1. 26.440 sec. by Nico Hulkenberg with the Haas VF-24.
2. 26.880 sec. by Lando Norris with the McLaren MCL60.
3. 26.599 sec. by Max Verstappen with the Red Bull RB20.

The quickest lap time of last year's FP3 was a 1:20.912 min, set by Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari SF-23 on hard tyres.

FP3 Times Table 2024 Italian GP

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