The final practice session of the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was nothing short of thrilling, setting the stage for an intense qualifying battle. Carlos Sainz delighted the home crowd by topping the timesheets for Ferrari, closely followed by McLaren's Lando Norris and teammate Charles Leclerc. Here's a detailed look at the highlights and key moments from FP3.
Sainz Shines on Home Soil
Carlos Sainz, cheered on by a passionate home crowd, led the final practice session with a time that was just 0.030 seconds faster than Lando Norris. Sainz's performance has put him in a strong position for qualifying, giving Ferrari hope for a potential pole position. His consistency and pace throughout the session showcased Ferrari's improvements with their latest upgrades.
Norris and Leclerc Close Behind
Lando Norris continued his strong form from Friday, despite running on slightly older tires. His best lap was only marginally slower than Sainz, highlighting McLaren's competitiveness this weekend. Charles Leclerc, who experienced a challenging Friday with setup changes and older spec parts, managed to secure the third spot, just 0.037 seconds behind his teammate Sainz. This close gap indicates a tight battle ahead for qualifying.
Verstappen and Red Bull Struggle
Max Verstappen could only manage fourth place, 0.074 seconds off Sainz's pace. Red Bull's struggles continued from Friday into Saturday, with both Verstappen and Sergio Perez finding it difficult to match the top times. Perez, who faces a three-place grid penalty from the Canadian Grand Prix, did not make it into the top 10, adding to Red Bull's concerns ahead of qualifying.
Incidents Under Investigation
The stewards are investigating two significant incidents from FP3. The first involved Lewis Hamilton impeding Lance Stroll, leading to a minor collision. Hamilton immediately apologized over the radio, but the stewards have noted the incident for further review. The second incident saw Charles Leclerc clipping Lando Norris in the final moments of the session. While Leclerc had room to avoid the contact, the incident is also under investigation to determine if any penalties will be issued.
Wind and Weather Conditions
The gusty conditions played a significant role during the session, catching out several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, who made a mistake on his flying lap. The track temperature hovered around 43 degrees Celsius, similar to FP2, and tire degradation remained high, potentially influencing race strategies. The forecast of overnight rain and possible wet conditions for the race adds another layer of complexity for the teams to consider.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Teams
Alexander Albon impressed by placing eighth, a full second ahead of his Williams teammate. Meanwhile, Red Bull's struggles were mirrored by other teams like Aston Martin and AlphaTauri, with Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda languishing in 16th and 18th, respectively. Mercedes showed potential, with George Russell asking for adjustments to his cockpit but still managing competitive times.
Halfway Top 10 Order
The top halfway this final practice session look like this:
- Russell (Mercedes) - 1:13.431 min (S)
- Norris (McLaren) +0.104 sec (M)
- Sainz (Ferrari) +0.105 sec (S)
- Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.141 sec (S)
- Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.434 sec (S)
- Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.806 sec (M)
- Ocon (Alpine) +1.080 sec (S)
- Piastri (McLaren) +1.084 sec (M)
- Gasly (Alpine) +1.193 sec (S)
- Albon (Williams) +1.224 sec (S)
FP3 Quickest Sector Times
The quickest sector times during this free practice were set by:
- Sector 1: 21.664 by Charles Leclerc with the Ferrari SF-24.
- Sector 2: 29.234 by Charles Leclerc with the Ferrari SF-24.
- Sector 3: 21.967 by Carlos Sainz with the Ferrari SF-24.
Final Thoughts Before Qualifying
With Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull all in the mix, the fight for pole position looks to be exceptionally tight. Sainz's top time has raised expectations for a strong Ferrari performance, but with Norris and Leclerc right on his tail, and Verstappen's known ability to pull out stunning laps, qualifying is set to be a nail-biter.
Join us at 15:30 local time (13:30 UTC) for what promises to be an electrifying qualifying session. Will Sainz secure pole on home soil, or will Norris or another contender snatch it away? Stay tuned for all the updates and results from Barcelona.
