Free Practice 3 of the 2023 Australian Grand Prix was an exciting prelude to what promised to be a thrilling race. This practice session took place before the qualifying session that saw Max Verstappen take pole position, ahead of Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. The rest of the top 10 comprised Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Charles Leclerc, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hulkenberg. Here’s a recap of what happened in the practice and qualifying sessions.
Verstappen Narrowly Leads Mercedes
The Red Bull driver continued where he left off in FP3, setting the fastest time in Qualifying with a lap of 1m16.732s. Mercedes drivers, Russell and Hamilton were close behind, posting lap times of 1m16.962s and 1m17.104s, respectively. Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, half a second behind Verstappen, while Carlos Sainz was fifth.
Ferrari’s Struggle
Ferrari had a disappointing practice session, with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggling to match the pace of the frontrunners. Leclerc, the defending event winner, was only able to set the 7th fastest time, over a second off the pace, while Sainz was fifth fastest in the qualifying session. This was not the performance the Tifosi were hoping for after a promising pre-season test.
Alonso Disappointed with P4
The Spaniard was fourth fastest, only half a second behind Verstappen, and ahead of both Ferrari drivers, Sainz and Leclerc. Alonso is one to watch in the race and could spring a surprise if he continues to perform like this. Nevertheless, he was not too happy with the 2 Mercedes Infront of him.
Albon Shines For Williams
Alex put on a brilliant show by putting his Williams P8 on the grid for tomorrow. He had shown good pace throughout the weekend and it has come to fruition in todays Qualifying. All that’s left to do know is to bag some points at the race tomorrow.
Red Bull Curse got the Best of Perez
Sergio Perez suffered a disappointing outcome, failing to set a time and getting eliminated in Q1. The Red Bull driver had a lock-up and slid into the Turn 3 gravel, which ultimately put an end to his qualifying session before he had a chance to complete a timed lap. It was later revealed that an issue in the car is the reason for his multiple mishaps in FP3 and Qualifying.
Perez Response
Despite this setback, Perez remained optimistic about his chances for the race, stating in a post-qualifying interview that “anything can happen in the race” and that he would “give it his all” to move up the order. The Red Bull team will undoubtedly be hoping that Perez can put in a strong performance and climb up the field. Given that teammate Verstappen secured pole position and will be looking to extend his lead in the drivers’ championship.
Let’s hope Red Bull is able to fix this issue by ‘lights out’ and Perez is able to storm through the field and end up near the front. Fans will love the extra action that this mix up will provide at tomorrow’s race.
Looking to the Race
Free Practice 3 of the 2023 Australian Grand Prix gave a glimpse of what could be expected in the race. Max Verstappen was once again the fastest driver, but he will face stiff competition from the Mercedes drivers. Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, and Lance Stroll also showed they have the pace to compete at the front. Ferrari will need to improve if they are to challenge for the podium. Alex Albon’s impressive performance for Williams will have pleased the team. While Lando Norris will be hoping for a better race after his front wing damage. The stage is set for a thrilling race in Melbourne.