P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Over half a second separated Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the end of FP3.
In final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri set the pace, with a time of 1:12.387s, securing himself as the one to beat in qualifying at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. During the session, McLaren’s Lando Norris faced a scary moment at Turn 9, causing him to use the escape road.
Piastri finished 0.526s ahead of Norris, who struggled with porpoising issues, reminiscent of challenges faced when the current regulations were newly introduced in 2022. Despite Piastri’s strong performance, he was forced to pit due to discomfort caused by something hard under his seat.
As the session progressed, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took over the top spot from George Russell by a narrow margin. The battle continued as Norris staged a comeback with a quick lap time, ultimately outpacing Verstappen by four-tenths.
The track saw improving lap times as drivers like Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, and Russell showcased competitive speeds, although still trailing Piastri’s leading time from the prior day. Overall, the session proved challenging, with drivers gradually ramping up their performance under scorching weather conditions in front of a limited audience in the grandstands.
