With a beautiful sunny day and a full house in the stands, FP3 kicks off, the last act of free practice at Zandvoort, signed by Charles Leclerc with a time of 1:11.632, Followed by George Russell e Max Verstappen. Many surprises emerged yesterday, starting from the landlord, MaxVerstappen, forced to stop for a exchange problem after the first laps on the track. He spent FP1 in the pits the Dutchman then returned to action in the FP2but with rather disappointing results. Both sessions were marked by a brace from the opposing teams, Mercedes – probably with the best Friday of the season – e Ferrari.
Friday less positive than Spa for Red Bull. In fact, it would seem that compared to last weekend the parties have reversed, which is all in favor of the show. Among the various problems for Red Bull is also that of tire management, a factor that matters a lot at Zandvoort. Problem that Verstappen also reported in FP3.
Red Bull breathes
Yesterday's alarm on Max's RB18 would seem to have ended. The team worked overnight on car number 1 breaking the seals for further checks. In short, ordinary administration, with the luck that a problem like this happened on a Friday. FP3 of a different flavor than yesterday, but always to be observed. The first to take to the track was a Red Bull squire, Sergio Perez, which confirms the evident problems of the previous sessions.
The Mexican still pays for a gap of more than a second from his teammate which despite complaining of little grip after just one lap, does a completely different type of work. There Max's RB18 would seem to have better balance, with a rear that follows the front better. Perez often complains of oversteer, his RB18 still slides a lot on the rear. Verstappen, on the other hand, suffers more from understeer. With two different needs it is possible that the team is now moving towards Max's preferences, the only one to have made a long run in FP3 which finished in P3.
Ferrari new trim and flies
Understanding whether these are tactics or actual problems is a difficult exercise. What is certain, however, is that Charles Leclerc showed the lack of feeling with the F1-75 as early as Friday. The Monegasque also suffered from understeer in FP3. Reason that led the team to a change of course with a job that took up a lot of time from Charles' session. Ferrari opted for a different setup, to try to find the most comfortable one for the Monegasque, who was back on track for the last 15 minutes in view of qualifying. The F1-75 radically changed its face by giving Charles more oversteer, the way he likes it. And he proves it by setting the fastest time.
It doesn't disappoint either Carlos Sainz, who finishes 4th but 3 tenths behind his teammate. The Reds has very high expectations for the weekend which must mark the rebirth to keep the fight alive in this last part of the season.
A compact group centre
It will be really intense and unpredictable qualifying. From 5th place onwards – occupied by Lewis Hamilton – they are all within a handful of tenths. Among the surprises in the Top 10 we find Mick Schumacher, 9th, whose future is still in the balance, and Sebastian Vettel, who finished 8th. One of the great surprises of this weekend is to see the two Aston Martins close together and in a rather advanced position holding the reins of the midfield. Vettel closes in the top 10 while Stroll 12th but without a great gap. An encouraging sign given that Aston's main problem lies precisely in the flying lap. The team opted for a medium downforce wing for the weekend.
Lando Norris also enters the top 10, a little more anonymous than yesterday. At the bottom of the group the AlphaTauri, Ricciardo – which in 2023 will be replaced with Oscar piastri, the Alfa Romeos and Latifis. Albon did well, finishing 13th, ahead of Esteban Ocon.
All times of FP3
1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | FERRARI | 1:11.632 | 19 | |
2 | 63 | George Russell | MERCEDES | 1:11.698 | + 0.066s | 23 |
3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | RED BULL RACING RBPT | 1:11.793 | + 0.161s | 22 |
4 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | FERRARI | 1:11.971 | + 0.339s | 16 |
5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | MERCEDES | 1:12.156 | + 0.524s | 24 |
6 | 11 | Sergio Perez | RED BULL RACING RBPT | 1:12.176 | + 0.544s | 28 |
7 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | ALPINE-RENAULT | 1:12.327 | + 0.695s | 16 |
8 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES | 1:12.491 | + 0.859s | 24 |
9 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | HAAS-FERRARI | 1:12.558 | + 0.926s | 14 |
10 | 4 | Land Norris | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 1:12.591 | + 0.959s | 17 |
11 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | HAAS-FERRARI | 1:12.606 | + 0.974s | 14 |
12 | 18 | Lance Stroll | ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES | 1:12.773 | + 1.141s | 18 |
13 | 23 | Alexander Albon | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 1:12.775 | + 1.143s | 17 |
14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | ALPINE-RENAULT | 1:13.003 | + 1.371s | 19 |
15 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | ALPHATAURI RBPT | 1:13.046 | + 1.414s | 22 |
16 | 22 | Yuki tsunoda | ALPHATAURI RBPT | 1:13.256 | + 1.624s | 22 |
17 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 1:13.299 | + 1.667s | 19 |
18 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | ALFA ROMEO FERRARI | 1:13.359 | + 1.727s | 14 |
19 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | ALFA ROMEO FERRARI | 1:13.421 | + 1.789s | 13 |
20 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 1:13.625 | + 1.993s | 21 |