Practice 3 Report - Lando Norris leads Lewis Hamilton in FP3

Lance Norris
© McLaren

Lando Norris completed Formula 1’s final practice session for the Mexico Grand Prix on top, putting McLaren in prime position heading into qualifying as Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ George Russell trailed closely behind.

In the late stages of a relatively quiet hour at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Norris produced a 1m16.633s lap on soft tyres, enough to stay clear of Hamilton by 0.345s and Russell by 0.512s. Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari, 0.566s back, while Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen followed in fifth and sixth.

Track conditions were again tricky at the high-altitude venue, with grip levels fluctuating as drivers adjusted to thin air and rising track temperatures. Verstappen was first to register a benchmark, lapping in 1m18.914s on mediums before lowering his time to a 1m18.051s. Carlos Sainz briefly topped the times for Williams with a 1m18.028s on softs before Norris began his own run of improvements.

After a front-right lock-up on his opening push lap, the McLaren driver regrouped to clock 1m18.015s on mediums before switching to softs for his decisive run. Russell became the first to dip under the 1m18s barrier with a 1m17.892s, but as the final qualifying simulations began, the order changed rapidly.

Williams’ Alex Albon looked poised to spring a surprise until a wide moment through the Foro Sol stadium section cost him time, paving the way for a string of improvements from Isack Hadjar, Piastri, Leclerc, and Hamilton. Ultimately, Norris reclaimed the top spot with his 1m16.633s lap and held it through to the flag.

Hamilton’s 1m16.978s secured second, with Russell third on 1m17.145s. Leclerc followed on 1m17.199s, just ahead of Piastri’s 1m17.232s and Verstappen’s 1m17.242s. Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed the Mercedes trio in seventh on 1m17.253s, while Hadjar’s 1m17.396s placed the Racing Bulls rookie eighth.

Yuki Tsunoda (1m17.415s) narrowly trailed in ninth for Red Bull, with Gabriel Bortoleto rounding out the top ten for Sauber on 1m17.526s. Liam Lawson (11th) and Esteban Ocon (12th) headed the midfield, while Lance Stroll, Nico Hülkenberg, and Carlos Sainz filled positions 13 to 15.

Albon’s scruffy late effort left him 16th, followed by Oliver Bearman, Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, and Fernando Alonso. The Aston Martin driver’s 1m18.611s was nearly two seconds off Norris’s pace as teams now turn their focus to qualifying.