FP3 in Bahrain: Piastri Blazes to the Top, Norris Trails by 6 Tenths. Leclerc Third, Mercedes and Verstappen Still a Mystery. Hamilton Only Tenth
The third free practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix is underway at the Sakhir circuit, marking the fourth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season. So far, McLaren has dominated the weekend, with Norris and Piastri topping both of Friday’s sessions. Can Red Bull and Ferrari close the gap in time for qualifying? Is Mercedes just an outsider, or something more? Follow the live coverage of FP3 in Bahrain.
Live Commentary of the Session
15:30 – Session ends: Piastri finishes on top with a stunning lap, six tenths clear of teammate Norris. Leclerc comes in third, eight tenths off the leader. Mercedes follows with Russell and rookie Antonelli in fourth and fifth. Verstappen ends up eighth, with Hamilton only tenth. Full times below:
- Oscar Piastri 1:31:646
- Lando Norris 1:32:314
- Charles Leclerc 1:32:480
- George Russell 1:32:827
- Kimi Antonelli 1:32:916
- Pierre Gasly 1:32:974
- Isack Hadjar 1:33:023
- Max Verstappen 1:33:027
- Carlos Sainz 1:33:092
- Lewis Hamilton 1:33:111
15:25 – Leclerc Attempts a Charge: The Ferrari driver climbs to third but remains eight tenths off Piastri and two tenths behind Norris. Hamilton is down in tenth, 1.4 seconds off the pace
15:20 – Piastri Sets the Benchmark: The Australian crushes the provisional best with a 1:31.646, a massive 1.3 seconds ahead of Gasly. Antonelli briefly moves up to second, 1.2 seconds adrift. Norris aborts his flying lap, and Verstappen is fifth, nearly 1.4 seconds down.
15:10 – Verstappen Closes the Gap: The Dutchman slots between the two McLarens, just two tenths off Piastri’s earlier 1:33.324
15:02 – Trouble for Hulkenberg: The Sauber suffers suspected engine issues, forcing Hulkenberg to park his car at the end of Sector 1. His session is over
14:55 – Piastri Responds to Norris: The McLaren driver asserts control, going four tenths quicker. Meanwhile, Verstappen aborts his lap after a mistake and radios complaints about his RB21. Alonso moves into third, Gasly fourth on medium tyres
14:50 – Norris Goes Top: The Brit sets the fastest time with a 1:33.796. Verstappen joins the track shortly after
14:45 – Ferrari hits the track: On soft tyres but with relatively slow times, Hamilton and Leclerc briefly top the charts ahead of the Haas pair. Hamilton posts a 1:34.846, Leclerc a 1:34.903
14:40 – Quiet Start: Limited activity early on. Only the two Haas drivers, Ocon and Bearman, have posted laps. Hamilton hits the track in his Ferrari
14:30 – Green Flag: The third and final free practice session in Sakhir is underway
Photo: McLaren, Scuderia Ferrari HP