FP3 report: Carlos Sainz P4, Charles Leclerc P6 in wet conditions at Silverstone | 2024 British GP
07/06/2024 07:45 AM
Mercedes driver George Russell topped the timesheets ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton as the German side achieved an impressive 1-2 finish in the rain-drenched final free practice session at the Formula 1 2024 British Grand Prix earlier today.
George Russell edged out his teammate Lewis Hamilton by a mere 0.035 seconds during the wet weather-dominated session at Silverstone. Lando Norris, who had set the fastest time in FP2, was less than two-tenths behind, completing an all-British top three.
The typically unpredictable English summer weather brought strong winds and heavy showers on Saturday morning, challenging the drivers on the slick Silverstone track.
George Russell clocked a 1:37.325, far from the lap record at the Silverstone circuit, but it highlighted Mercedes’ proficiency in wet conditions. They were notably ahead of Red Bull and Ferrari, with Max Verstappen uncharacteristically lagging in P6.
The rain added an element of uncertainty for the drivers, but the session provided valuable data for the crucial upcoming sessions, with forecasts predicting more rain for Saturday afternoon’s qualifying and Sunday’s race.
Verstappen was the first to spin, losing control of his RB20 at Abbey before skillfully correcting with a 180-degree maneuver. Just seven minutes in, Pierre Gasly spun at Vale corner, beaching his Alpine in the gravel and causing a red flag.
Pierre Gasly’s incident was less consequential, as he will start from the back of the grid on Sunday due to engine penalties. His car remained in the garage for the rest of the session as engineers assessed the damage.
Daniel Ricciardo drew the stewards’ attention after weaving dangerously in the pit lane on his way back to the pits, a risky move given the wet conditions and proximity to mechanics. An investigation will follow the session.
Lewis Hamilton demonstrated his wet-weather prowess by going seven-tenths faster than Verstappen on intermediate tires, but as a dry line began to form and the track rubbered in, lap times improved. Verstappen then bettered Hamilton’s time by another seven-tenths, showcasing the track’s evolving conditions.
In the final 15 minutes, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, and Lando Norris remained the top three, a result that would undoubtedly please the British crowd if replicated during the afternoon’s qualifying session.
At Silverstone, FP3 unfolds with Ferrari making a drastic decision regarding updates to the SF-24.
Ferrari aims to optimize the package seen at Imola. After Friday, Charles Leclerc also chooses to fit the version brought to Italy, effectively discarding the latest updates from Barcelona. This setup might be used in the race as well. Charles Leclerc sets the fastest time at the end of the first twenty minutes of the session, only to be quickly surpassed by Max Verstappen by a mere tenth (1:40.319).
The impression is that, in wet conditions, the Imola package of the SF-24 shows its best. The aerodynamic downforce generated keeps Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari glued to the asphalt, allowing him to climb back to the top of the timesheets with a 1:38.454. Carlos Sainz lags behind, continuing to not go beyond fifth position. After everyone else completed their laps, the Monegasque driver ended the session in P6 and his Maranello teammate in P4.
Final Practice One timesheet: Top 10
1) George Russell, Mercedes, 1:37.529
2) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, +0.035
3) Lando Norris, McLaren, +0.283
4) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, +0.610
5) Max Verstappen, Red Bull, +0.864
6) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, +0.925
7) Oscar Piastri, McLaren, +1.125
8) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, +1.411
9) Sergio Perez, Red Bull, +1.755
10) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas, +1.811
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