Spanish GP FP3: Verstappen on top again, despite rainy conditions
Despite the challenging weather, Verstappen again claimed the top spot in FP3. He was closely followed by Perez in second, and Hamilton in third.
Under the shadow of thunderstorms, Formula 1's Spanish Grand Prix final practice witnessed a good performance from championship leader Max Verstappen.
Navigating the dry start and the rain-hit latter half, he registered the fastest time, demonstrating Red Bull's dominance.
The unpredictability of the weather in Barcelona from the northern Pyrenees threw a curveball for the teams.
The dry start led teams to begin the session with dry-weather tyres, but soon the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was marked by scattered rain.
This unexpected weather shift prompted the teams to revise their standard FP3 routines.
The green flag saw an immediate scramble from drivers rushing out of the pits, keen on capitalising on the dry conditions.
Logan Sargeant of Williams had a minor brush with the wall but emerged with only slight left-side damage.
As the rain grew stronger, the red flag came into play, putting a stop to further attempts at time improvements.
A nine-minute delay was followed by a green flag, signalling the drivers back to the damp track.
But drivers treaded carefully, with McLaren's Lando Norris leading the pack, venturing out past the half-hour mark to examine the track conditions on the intermediates as the rain seemed to ease.
As the session was coming to a close, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin and Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri both faced difficulties handling the tricky conditions.
Meanwhile, several drivers switched back to Pirelli's soft slicks, achieving dry weather times in the final minutes.
Through the tumult of the first two sectors drying up, Verstappen's top time remained unchallenged.
He led the practice round, followed by Perez, Hamilton, Sainz, and Alonso.
The top 10 was rounded out by notable performances from the likes of McLaren's Norris and AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda, after securing single hot laps in the dry.
The final practice of the F1 Spanish Grand Prix served as a testament to the versatility of the teams and their drivers, who adapted and performed amidst rapidly changing conditions.
With more inclement weather forecasted for the weekend, these skills will be put to the test during the qualifying rounds and the grand prix.
Max Verstappen, fresh off his impressive performance, stands as a strong contender for the championship title.
His ability to maintain his pace, despite the evolving conditions, sets a precedent for the grand prix and beyond.
The stage is set for an intense competition in the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, with the title race becoming more thrilling with every passing event.
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