Forward of at present’s sole follow session the air temperature is 29 levels C, whereas the observe temperature is 53 levels.
As was the case yesterday this session is just about unrepresentative because it takes place in totally completely different situations (daylight) to qualifying and tomorrow’s race.
Lando Norris was quickest within the night, forward of his teammate, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, whereas sixth quickest Yuki Tsunoda introduced the session to an early finish when he crashed out.
In truth it is shocking that there weren’t extra purple flag as various drivers received up shut and private with the obstacles as they pushed to the boundaries, whereas an absence of grip and a robust headwind in Flip 1 hardly helped issues.
Tyres are a step softer than final 12 months, the C5 showing for the primary time this 12 months.
Work continues on Tsunoda’s automotive, whereas Bortoleto, who missed FP2 as a result of a gas leak, is ready to go following an in a single day chassis change.
Certainly, the Brazilian is first out, adopted by Doohan, Alonso and Stroll as all three compounds are in use.
Bortoleto (mediums) posts a benchmark 32.160, however Doohan (softs) responds with a 30.613.
As Ocon heads out on softs, Alonso and Stroll, who had been each on hards, pit, having achieved their standard scrubbing lap.
Nearly all of drivers are opting to attend till the solar units just a little lowe and the temperatures start to drop.
Ocon shoots straight to the highest of the timesheets with a 30.515, as Bearman and Hadjar head out. They’re adopted by Hamilton who’s on softs.
Bearman posts a 30.252 on the softs as Leclerc, Lawson and Piastri head out.
Hamilton’s first lap is barely ok foe second, 0.115s off Bearman’s tempo.
Leclerc goes third with a 30.408 however is demoted when Doohan stops the clock at 29.666, faster than he went in FP2.
By the way, the Australian shall be investigated after the session for failing to observe the race director’s directions.
Purples within the first two sectors are adopted by a 3rd as Piastri crosses the road at 29.118, 0.546s up on countryman Doohan.
Norris goes second, 0.085s down on his teammate, as Hadjar goes eighth.
Verstappen heads out on softs.
Hadjar complains of water flying round inside his helmet. “We actually should do away with the drinks system,” he warns.
Verstappen posts a 29.077, 0.041s up on Piastri.
Hamilton improves to 3rd (29.188) on his third flyer on the identical set of softs, however Leclerc eclipses him with a 28.860 to go prime, regardless of an enormous wobble in Flip 27.
Lawson goes ninth, as, with 38 minutes remaining, Stroll, Russell, Antonelli, Sainz, Gasly and Tsunoda have but to submit occasions.
Piastri posts a 28.605 as Alonso goes eleventh with a 30.291.
Russell goes sixth (29.326) and Sainz tenth as Norris improves to second (28.763) following a poor center sector.
Gasly goes ninth as Tsunoda thanks his workforce for repairing his automotive and getting him out. The Japanese instantly will get very near the obstacles at Flip 13.
Regardless of getting squeezed by Tsunoda, Piastri consolidates his prime spot with a 28.470, 0.293s up on his teammate.
“Is he blind, or…” ask Piastri of the Purple Bull driver.
Norris improves to inside 0.207s of his regardless of a weak remaining sector.
Gasly improves to seventh, 0.955s off the tempo.
A 29.096 sees Tsunoda go fifth.
Antonelli improves to eighth with a 29.348 as Hulkenberg goes tenth and Lawson sixteenth.
Albon goes sixth with a 29.039 as Leclerc improves to 3rd with a 28.718.
A 28.896 places Sainz fifth as Hadjar improves to sixteenth.
With round 18 minutes remaining, as temperatures cool, the drivers change to recent softs, among the many first are Russell and Piastri.
Russell goes prime with a 28.214, and as Antonelli goes fourth with a 28.679, Piastri crosses the road at 27.513.
Norris goes second, 0.158s down on his teammate, regardless of being quickest in S3.
Albon goes fourth and Tsunoda fifth, the pair subsequently break up by Verstappen’s 28.413, the Dutchman 0.900s down on Piastri.
“Once more, this bizarre engine braking,” complains Verstappen as Leclerc goes fourth with a 28.372.
Hamilton can solely handle twelfth (29.188), 0.8s down on his teammate.
Within the RB storage, Hadjar is having his rear wing modified. He’s presently seventeenth.
Nevertheless, his teammate goes tenth with a 29.100.
Seemingly each Ferrari drivers have taken on new engines this weekend.
On recent rubber, Alonso improves to ninth with a 28.888. Teammate Stroll fails to enhance on 18th.
Norris goes purple in S1, sustaining a robust tempo in S2. On the line it is 27.489, as he goes 0.024s up on his teammate.
“Jeez!” replies Hamilton when advised the place he’s dropping out.
Sainz goes seventh with a 28.570 and Hadjar tenth (28.769).
Gasly goes eighth (28.625).
Hamilton has a good S1 however loses time within the second sector. On the line it is 28.780 as he goes twelfth, albeit nonetheless 0.4s down on his teammate.
Replay exhibits a bushy second for Piastri, ass Russell goes third with a 28.116, 0.627s down on Norris.
Lawson improves to thirteenth with a 28.861, the RBs now sandwiching Hamilton.
A late enchancment, courtesy of a tow, sees Verstappen enhance to fourth with a 28.334, albeit 0.845s off the tempo.
“That is the restrict of this automotive,” reviews Leclerc, “I can’t go quicker in corners, it is simply sliding from all 4 tyres.”
The session ends. Norris is quickest, forward of Piastri, Russell, Verstappen, Leclerc, Albon, Sainz, Gasly, Tsunoda and Antonelli.
Hadjar is eleventh, forward of Hamilton, Lawson, Alonso, Doohan, Bearman , Hulkenberg, Ocon, Bortoleto and Stroll.
“It seems like Bahrain,” says Toto Wolff, “in FP3 when it is rather sizzling McLaren are in a league of their very own.
“However we had been better of the remainder,” he provides, “and we hope it’ll come in the direction of us within the night.”
Worryingly, he would not really feel that McLaren had turned the wick up on its engines.
