Max Verstappen topped the time sheets within the remaining F1 observe session of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend forward of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris.
The quickest three drivers in FP3 had been unchanged from FP1 and FP2, solely altering order as soon as once more as Verstappen went quickest with a 1:11.622. Kimi Antonelli was simply 0.025 off Verstappen’s time, and third quickest Norris was inside 0.131.
Early concern for Antonelli
Newly topped champion Kimi Antonelli got here throughout a problem within the first jiffy of the session, complaining about his steering wheel after which one other drawback with the upshifts earlier than being known as into the pits for a special steering wheel.
Lando Norris set a 1:13.064 on his first flying lap, which was the quickest of the primary 10 minutes of working till lap instances from Leclerc and Antonelli got here in, pushing the McLaren driver to 3rd with instances within the 1:12s. There was nonetheless loads of lap time to return although, because the quickest time in FP2 yesterday was a 1:10.763 from Antonelli.
quarter-hour in, Leclerc was instructed on crew radio mild rain was anticipated quickly, doubtlessly impacting the groups’ qualifying preparation, however the rain didn’t come. Leclerc is ready to affix a bunch of different drivers taking grid penalties in Brazil for engine elements, together with teammate Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Sergio Perez, and Max Verstappen who will take an entire new engine after points in Friday’s working.
Even with a model new ICE fitted, Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari sadly got here again into the storage for the remainder of the session after Hamilton reported smoke within the cockpit. With 20 minutes left on the clock, Hamilton’s 1:12.833 was solely ok for eighth quickest.
Smooth tyres on for remaining quarter-hour
Mercedes and McLaren had been first out on the gentle tyres, George Russell placing in a 1:11.806 to briefly go quickest earlier than extra gentle compound lap instances beginning flying in from Norris and Antonelli. It was Verstappen with the quickest although, two tenths faster than Russell.
Hamilton and Lance Stroll are the one drivers to not get a lap on the gentle tyres, with the Ferrari nonetheless within the storage and the Aston Martin additionally compelled to retire from the ultimate observe session with a suspected ERS concern.
Because the session got here to a detailed, there have been heavy darkish clouds looming over Interlagos, suggesting an impending fall of rain that groups could be hoping wouldn’t coincide with qualifying afterward.
READ MORE – F1 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix – FP3 Outcomes
