General

FP3 Report | Leclerc tops tight FP3 session, as 3 teams in top 3

FP3 Report | Leclerc tops tight FP3 session, as 3 teams in top 3

21-05-2022 13:00 Last update: 13:32
10

It was Leclerc's domination as once again Leclerc secured the top spot once again, in what has almost become a certainty so far this season and this weekend as it's he tops all three practices. Meanwhile, title rival Max Verstappen fought with his Red Bull and managed to wrangle it into second place, just ahead of his teammate in fifth. While George Russell managed to get his Mercedes into the final spot in the top 3.

Red Bull still looks nervous

Although the Red Bull has shown a greater race pace than the rest of the grid this weekend, the car, especially Sergio Perez looks unnerved at times, as the Mexcian is almost wrestling the car to stay on the racing line. Meanwhile teammate Verstappen does look a little more settled and can compete with the Ferraris. They're still about four-tenths slower in the middle sector, something that can't quite claw back during the rest of the lap.

Mercedes's pace drops off again...

Just like in Miami, it's the Silver arrows that can't translate Friday pace into Saturday pace, at least for most of the session. Russell did manage to slide his Merc into P2 with a quarter of an hour left in the session, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton managed a fourth-place by the end of the session just behind Russell in third. In what appeared to be a classic case of Mercedes sandbagging around Spain returning.

Schumacher on fire

Mick Schumacher's brakes were set on fire in the scorching heat in Spain. The right rear of his HAAS is significantly singed, as a result, the German is out for the session, and Sky's Ted Kravitz believes he could be in doubt for qualifying

No running for Gasly

Pierre Gasly and Alpha Tauri suffered some heat-related engine issues throughout the session, which meant no running for the Frenchman in the third free practice session, which could leave him lacking behind for the rest of the weekend, especially in this afternoon's qualifying session.