McLaren continued their mean streak, leaving rivals in their wake, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, P1 and P2 on the timesheets at the end of FP3 for the 2025 Saudi Grand Prix, setting themselves up as favourites for a front row lockout later today in Jeddah.
The pair of McLarens hogged the top of the timing screens for most of the hour, with Norris and Piastri swapping the top spot until the latter ended the session a mere 0.024s quicker than his teammate. The best of the rest were over half a second behind. The gap is massive, suggesting a two-McLaren driver shootout for pole.
FP3 was run at sunset local time in Jeddah, which presents different conditions to the cooler night session when track temperatures drop off significantly and rapidly. Nevertheless, the pecking order appears set. McLaren are way ahead—0.627s to be precise—but thereafter there is virtually nothing separating the rest.
Best of those was George Russell in the Mercedes, whose hot lap effort propelled him to P3 on the timing screens, followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in P4, albeit 0.845s down on Norris. P5 went to Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, with just a couple of tenths separating the trio.
Verstappen will need to rediscover the magic he found at Suzuka to usurp the Papayas for pole today—but the gap may be a stretch, even for this generation’s best driver.
Of the outsiders, Williams looking strong
Only Alex Albon’s P6 effort in the Williams was within a second of the benchmark, with teammate Sainz 1.081s adrift of Norris. Five Mercedes-powered cars in the top seven is impressive, even more so considering the top three were among them.
Pierre Gasly ended the session P8 in the Alpine and, like the Williams pair, could be a surprise package later tonight if he catches a tow and a clean run in Qualifying.
In the 'cursed' number two Red Bull, Yuki Tusonda was three-tenths down on Verstappen, which suggests the Japanese driver is coming to grips with the troublesome RB21. Qualy will tell how much so.
Best of the rookies—who are being well tested by the daunting and unforgiving Jeddah Corniche Circuit—was Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli in P10. He was half a second shy of Russell’s best effort.
Isack Hadjar again impressed for Racing Bulls, his P11 effort a tenth quicker than teammate Liam Lawson in P13. The pair were split by seven-time F1 World Champion, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who was P12 on the FP3 timesheets—nearly half a second down on teammate Leclerc. The Briton appears increasingly uncomfortable in the SF25.
Aston Martin performance vis-à-vis investment as embarrassing as Lance has become
In other head-to-heads between teammates, Jack Doohan was P15 and four-tenths shy of Gasly in the other Alpine. At Haas, rookie Oliver Bearman outpaced Esteban Ocon. At Sauber, Nico Hülkenberg was faster than Gabriel Bortoleto.
A word on Aston Martin. The 'Dream Team' is beginning to look like a full-blown nightmare, more like a 'Formidable Flop'. So much so that even Fernando Alonso could manage no better than P14, with the AMR24, the veteran Spaniard, who seems to attract sh!t cars, was over a second and a half off the top time today.
In the other car, Lawrence Stroll’s son (yes, him) was the slowest of all—two seconds off the fastest time in FP3, and a staggering six tenths down on his teammate. This, from a driver with 174 Grand Prix weekends on his CV.
At the sharp end, expect Norris versus Piastri for Saudi Grand Prix pole in Jeddah tonight, with maybe a chance for Verstappen to get legendary again (like Suzuka) or Leclerc finding the magic to add to his 26 P1 starts. And then there's George!
Saudi GP FP3 Best Lap Times
Saudi GP: How FP3 Unfolded
60 minutes to go: Green light for FP3 in Jeddah
Final practice begins in Jeddah. No rush from the drivers to take to the track initially.
Final practice begins in Jeddah. No rush from the drivers to take to the track initially.
58 minutes to go: Tsunoda’s car still being repaired
Red Bull continue work on Yuki Tsunoda’s car after his crash in FP2. The team says these are routine repairs.
Red Bull continue work on Yuki Tsunoda’s car after his crash in FP2. The team says these are routine repairs.
57 minutes to go: Bortoleto out early
Gabriel Bortoleto hits the track early in his new chassis after missing FP2 due to a fuel leak. He sets a 1:32.160.
Gabriel Bortoleto hits the track early in his new chassis after missing FP2 due to a fuel leak. He sets a 1:32.160.
53 minutes to go: Doohan under investigation
Jack Doohan will face the stewards for “failing to follow race directors’ instructions,” possibly for crossing the pit entry line.
Jack Doohan will face the stewards for “failing to follow race directors’ instructions,” possibly for crossing the pit entry line.
51 minutes to go: Haas pair set early pace
Oliver Bearman goes fastest with a 1:30.252, beating Haas team-mate Esteban Ocon. Ferraris soon join the track.
Oliver Bearman goes fastest with a 1:30.252, beating Haas team-mate Esteban Ocon. Ferraris soon join the track.
48 minutes to go: Hamilton and Leclerc begin runs
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc head out for their first laps as track temperatures begin to drop.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc head out for their first laps as track temperatures begin to drop.
46 minutes to go: Ferraris trail early times
Both Ferraris lap around 0.7s off Jack Doohan’s early benchmark. Hamilton is just 0.03s quicker than Leclerc.
Both Ferraris lap around 0.7s off Jack Doohan’s early benchmark. Hamilton is just 0.03s quicker than Leclerc.
43 minutes to go: Piastri beats Doohan’s time
Oscar Piastri sets a 1:29.2, half a second quicker than Doohan. Norris follows closely, 0.085s behind.
Oscar Piastri sets a 1:29.2, half a second quicker than Doohan. Norris follows closely, 0.085s behind.
42 minutes to go: Doohan warned again
Jack Doohan receives another warning for driving into the painted area near pit entry.
Jack Doohan receives another warning for driving into the painted area near pit entry.
40 minutes to go: Verstappen ahead of McLarens
Max Verstappen goes fastest with a 1:29.077, beating both McLarens on his first flying lap.
Max Verstappen goes fastest with a 1:29.077, beating both McLarens on his first flying lap.
38 minutes to go: Leclerc into the 1:28s
Charles Leclerc moves to the top with a strong lap. Hamilton slots into fourth.
Charles Leclerc moves to the top with a strong lap. Hamilton slots into fourth.
37 minutes to go: Piastri back ahead
Oscar Piastri reclaims the fastest time by 0.255s over Leclerc. Verstappen is now third.
Oscar Piastri reclaims the fastest time by 0.255s over Leclerc. Verstappen is now third.
35 minutes to go: Norris goes second, Russell sixth
Lando Norris splits the McLarens in P2. Russell goes sixth for Mercedes; Antonelli is 12th.
Lando Norris splits the McLarens in P2. Russell goes sixth for Mercedes; Antonelli is 12th.
33 minutes to go: Tsunoda back on track
After repairs, Yuki Tsunoda returns to action and begins building pace.
After repairs, Yuki Tsunoda returns to action and begins building pace.
32 minutes to go: Piastri unhappy with Tsunoda
Oscar Piastri complains over team radio about being squeezed: “Bro, this guy blind, or...”
Oscar Piastri complains over team radio about being squeezed: “Bro, this guy blind, or...”
27 minutes to go: Verstappen and Tsunoda move up
Verstappen goes third, 0.277s off Piastri. Tsunoda jumps to fifth with a strong lap.
Verstappen goes third, 0.277s off Piastri. Tsunoda jumps to fifth with a strong lap.
23 minutes to go: Leclerc up to third
Charles Leclerc improves to third, just 0.248s behind the leader. Sainz and Albon also deliver competitive laps.
Charles Leclerc improves to third, just 0.248s behind the leader. Sainz and Albon also deliver competitive laps.
22 minutes to go: Gasly into the top ten
Pierre Gasly matches Hamilton’s time of 1:29.188 to enter the top 10 for Alpine.
Pierre Gasly matches Hamilton’s time of 1:29.188 to enter the top 10 for Alpine.
17 minutes to go: Final qualifying simulations begin
Drivers bolt on fresh softs for their final performance runs ahead of qualifying.
Drivers bolt on fresh softs for their final performance runs ahead of qualifying.
16 minutes to go: Piastri sets ominous pace
Oscar Piastri goes quickest with a 1:27.513. Norris is 0.158s behind. Russell is 0.7s off in third.
Oscar Piastri goes quickest with a 1:27.513. Norris is 0.158s behind. Russell is 0.7s off in third.
15 minutes to go: Verstappen only fifth
Max Verstappen sits 0.9s off Piastri’s time and reports “weird engine braking” over the radio. Tsunoda is sixth.
Max Verstappen sits 0.9s off Piastri’s time and reports “weird engine braking” over the radio. Tsunoda is sixth.
13 minutes to go: Leclerc fourth, Hamilton 12th
Leclerc laps nearly 0.9s behind the leader. Hamilton continues to struggle and is 1.675s off the pace.
Leclerc laps nearly 0.9s behind the leader. Hamilton continues to struggle and is 1.675s off the pace.
10 minutes to go: Albon impresses in fifth
Alex Albon jumps to P5, ahead of both Red Bulls. Williams looking strong in Jeddah.
Alex Albon jumps to P5, ahead of both Red Bulls. Williams looking strong in Jeddah.
7 minutes to go: Norris goes fastest
Lando Norris posts a 1:27.489 to lead Piastri by 0.024s, locking out a McLaren one-two.
Lando Norris posts a 1:27.489 to lead Piastri by 0.024s, locking out a McLaren one-two.
5 minutes to go: Hamilton up to 12th
Hamilton improves slightly but remains outside the top 10, four tenths behind Leclerc.
Hamilton improves slightly but remains outside the top 10, four tenths behind Leclerc.
0 minutes to go: Verstappen climbs to fourth
Max Verstappen jumps to P4 late on with the help of a tow from Hamilton but remains 0.845s behind Norris.
Max Verstappen jumps to P4 late on with the help of a tow from Hamilton but remains 0.845s behind Norris.
Chequered flag: McLaren dominate FP3
McLaren finish 1-2 with Norris ahead of Piastri. Russell and Verstappen follow, nearly nine tenths down.
The McLarens appear the favourites for pole, while rivals scramble to close the gap.
McLaren finish 1-2 with Norris ahead of Piastri. Russell and Verstappen follow, nearly nine tenths down.
The McLarens appear the favourites for pole, while rivals scramble to close the gap.
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