All 'Albert park It promises to be a very interesting weekend. There have already been many twists and turns that have taken place over the course of the southern weekend, one above all the one concerning the Williams: the English team will send only Albon on track after bang during FP1 sacrificing Sargeant. The FP3 session was particularly important, not just for understanding who to field at Fanta F1 in view of the qualifications, but also to evaluate the evolution of values on the field. Well, Ferrari has looked in great shape so far, with Leclerc first in the FP2 yesterday, as it arrives on Saturday Max Verstappen struggled despite declaring himself confident. The two top teams seem to be playing another game. At the back there could be surprises in the battle between Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren. Let's now find out the outcome of FP3.
Green light, FP3 of the Australian GP begins
There is immediately something wrong at Red Bull. Max Verstappen opens on the radio warning that the brakes are not working properly. What seems like the number 1's routine "free practice complaint" is however confirmed in Perez's words a few moments later. Don't panic at the winged bull's box: probably the whims of the braking system are linked to the low ambient temperature, which makes it difficult to bring it to temperature.
Despite the problems, the two RB20s finished the first quarter of an hour ahead of everyone. Sainz's Ferrari follows half a second behind. Hamilton struggles with Mercedes, a second and a half from Verstappen's first half despite the advantage compound. Carlos Sainz, fresh from the operation, will put the little horse in front: excellent lap for the Spaniard who leaves Verstappen three tenths behind. In the meantime Leclerc was forced to abort the lap after a cross at the last corner. The radio teams between Hamilton and his track engineer are curious, with the seven-time world champion unable to understand the gap from the head of the group.
Red Bull and Ferrari of another category
The RB20s aren't the only ones to suffer from some quirks with the braking system. There's something wrong with Alonso's Aston Martin too; the images showing the smoking front brakes bear witness to this. Leclerc tries again to do a fast lap: the Monegasque sets the second time three tenths behind his teammate despite Stroll's traffic in the final corners.
Ferrari and Red Bull don't seem to want to leave crumbs. The ranking sees the four cars of the two teams ahead of everyone with a compound disadvantage. If the dry laps hint at the superiority of the two teams, the qualifying simulations confirm it. It looks like graining will be a determining factor in the outcome on Sunday. After the long run, both Sainz, Verstappen and Perez reported the aforementioned problem.
The last minutes and the final ranking
In the final stages Mercedes wakes up, probably more comfortable as the temperature rises. More complaints one step into qualifying for Max Verstappen. According to the latter, the soft tire makes his Red Bull move too much in fast corners.
At the conclusion of FP3 of the Australian GP in first position is Charles Leclerc, who takes the first half away from Verstappen just a moment before the end of the session. Third there is Sainz ahead of the Mercedes duo composed of Hamilton e Russell. follows Alonso ahead of Perez, Piastri, Stroll and Norris. tsunoda is the first of the second half of the standings, bringing it behind Bottas, Albon and Zhou. Or with he is ahead of the Haas duo led by Hulkenberg. Second to last there is Ricciardo, Last gasly.
