Lando Norris stunned the Formula 1 community by leading the final free practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix, following a difficult Friday for McLaren. Norris clocked an impressive 1m11.799s, driving with evident determination and bouncing back strongly after describing Friday as the team‘s “worst of the year.”

Oscar Piastri’s Setback Hampers Championship Leader’s Progress

On the same track, championship leader Oscar Piastri encountered trouble near the end of FP3 when he hit the infamous “wall of champions,” causing a puncture to his right rear tire and triggering a red flag. This incident slowed his pace, and despite efforts to recover, Piastri finished in eighth place, trailing Norris by seven-tenths of a second.

Additional Challenges Highlight Tense FP3 Session

The session was marked by tense moments as drivers like Nico Hulkenberg and Oliver Bearman narrowly avoided crashes at the final chicane. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen delivered a solid performance, placing fifth fastest, and Fernando Alonso impressed with his pace driving for Aston Martin. Teams wrestled with tire choices, initially seeing Charles Leclerc lead on medium tires before most shifted to the soft C6 compounds to set the fastest laps.

Qualifying Awaits as Teams Prepare for Crucial Battle

With Norris setting the pace in FP3, expectations rise for qualifying, where the full capabilities of each driver and team will come under scrutiny. This promising start from Norris at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve signals an exciting contest for pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix.

“Lando Norris really showed his resilience after a tough Friday.” —Driver Coach
“Nico Hulkenberg and Oliver Bearman had some close calls, but they managed to keep it together.” —Race Analyst
“Fernando Alonso continues to impress with his consistent performance in the Aston Martin.” —F1 Commentator