Lewis Hamilton struggles as Ferrari suffer bizarre mi….. read more
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Oscar Piastri delivered an outstanding performance during the final practice session (FP3) ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, leaving his competitors trailing behind. The young Australian driver topped the timing charts with an incredibly dominant lap, finishing nearly seven-tenths of a second ahead of his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris. It was a commanding display that put Piastri well ahead of the rest of the field, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc being the only other driver to get within a second of Piastri’s pace.
Piastri’s form in FP3 raised plenty of eyebrows, especially considering how much he outpaced his teammate, suggesting that the McLaren might be well-suited to the Bahrain circuit, or perhaps that Piastri simply managed to hook up an ideal lap. Either way, his gap over the rest of the grid was one of the standout stories of the session.
However, not all drivers had a smooth session. The hot and slippery track conditions caught several out, including George Russell, who experienced a low-speed spin at Turn 10. After the incident, he voiced his frustration over the radio, stating to his Mercedes engineers that he had never experienced so little grip in a Formula 1 car before. His exact words were, “I’d probably go as far as saying that’s the least amount of grip I’ve ever had in an F1 car.” His spin highlighted just how challenging the circuit was in the high midday temperatures, which significantly affected tire performance and overall handling.
Russell wasn’t alone in struggling—many drivers found the session difficult, with some battling oversteer and unpredictable grip levels. These conditions were mainly due to the fact that FP3 was held in the heat of the day, which isn’t representative of the cooler temperatures expected later in the evening during qualifying. Because of this, most teams approached the session with caution, knowing that the data collected might not translate directly to qualifying or race performance.
Ferrari also had a moment of concern during the session, although the article did not specify the nature of the mishap. Whether it was technical or strategic, the issue seemed to reflect the Italian team’s tendency for occasional operational missteps, even when they appear competitive on pace.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, didn’t have a particularly strong showing either. Like his teammate Russell, he struggled to find grip and rhythm throughout the session. The Mercedes car once again seemed difficult to handle, especially in the warmer track temperatures, and both drivers appeared frustrated by their inability to get comfortable with the setup.
All in all, FP3 gave a mixed picture of team performances ahead of qualifying. While McLaren and especially Piastri seemed to be flying, others like Mercedes and Ferrari had a more complicated time. That said, given the extreme heat and how different the conditions will be when the sun sets, teams were expected to make significant changes before the evening session.
The final practice may not have been entirely reflective of what’s to come, but it certainly provided drama and insight into who’s adapting best to Bahrain’s unique challenges. All eyes would now turn to qualifying, where teams would aim to apply their learnings and hope that earlier struggles wouldn’t carry over into the night.
