Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton Fastest In FP3 While Leclerc Hits The Wall

1 Mins read
Lewis Hamilton - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - F1
Credit: Octane Photographic Ltd

Lewis Hamilton finished fastest in the final practice of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he topped the timing sheets from the two Scuderia Ferraris.

Kimi Räikkönen was second quickest, just under three tenths of a second slower than the Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport with Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel third fastest round the Yas Marina Circuit.

Max Verstappen was fourth ahead of Valtteri Bottas, who had topped the timing sheets in Free Practice 2 yesterday.

Daniel Ricciardo was sixth in his Aston Martin Red Bull Racing but was forced to pull over to the side of the track with a few minutes left of the session with a suspected water pressure issue.

Romain Grosjean was best of the rest in seventh place but did have a run in with the Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda of Pierre Gasly in the final moments of the session. The incident is under investigation by the stewards.

Nico Hülkenberg was eighth fastest ahead of Renault Sport Formula One Team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr. with Esteban Ocon in the Racing Point Force India F1 Team rounding out the top ten.

Sergio Pérez in the second Force India was eleventh with Brendon Hartley twelfth quickest.

Charles Leclerc was thirteenth but hit the wall early in the session. The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team driver lost his rear wing when he spun at turn 19 and hit the wall but Leclerc was able to get the car back to the pits for repairs.

The Haas F1 Team of Kevin Magnussen was fourteenth ahead of Gasly with Fernando Alonso, in his final practice session, finishing sixteenth.

Marcus Ericsson in potentially his last ever practice session was seventeenth with Lance Stroll eighteenth.

Stoffel Vandoorne was nineteenth fastest as he aims to outqualify Alonso for the first time this season later and Sergey Sirotkin in the second Williams Martini Racing was the slowest driver in Free Practice 3.

Mercedes and Ferrari look close again going into the final qualifying of the season with Red Bull just behind hoping to take advantage of any mistake.

[table id=3638 /]

Avatar photo
485 posts

About author
A journalism student from Scotland. Covering Formula 1 for The Checkered Flag.
Articles
Related posts
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix - TCF Driver of the Weekend

2 Mins read
TheCheckeredFlag Driver of the Weekend is revealed for the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix – What the Team Principals are Saying after the Race

7 Mins read
The ten Team Principals reflect on drivers performances at Albert Park during Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, a race that saw Ferrari claim their first win of 2024.
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix – What the Drivers are Saying after the Race – Part 2

7 Mins read
Those who missed out on points in Australia reflect on their races, including Max Verstappen, who retired from a Grand Prix for the first time since the same event in 2022.