Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Free Practice 3: Red Bull double with Sergio Pérez in the lead

This is the last practice session of the season, in Abu Dhabi, before the qualifying this afternoon. The sun and the heat are present at Yas Marina. On Friday, it was the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell who set the fastest times, while Max Verstappen was the quickest during Free Practice 2.

For this third session, the Aston Martins are the first to take to the track, on medium tires, as the F1 world prepares to bid farewell to Sebastian Vettel on Sunday. Everyone seems relaxed, Fernando Alonso appears to be joking in the Alpine garage, which he will soon leave to take the German’s place. At the beginning of the session, Max Verstappen was not in a hurry to join his car.

The Ferraris are the next ones to hit the track, also on medium tires, while the Italian team sees Mercedes getting dangerously close to threaten their second place in the constructors’ championship.

It is Carlos Sainz who sets the fastest time first, at 1:27.821, even though only a few cars have gone out yet. The Spaniard will make his 162nd Grand Prix start tomorrow, overtaking Ayrton Senna and Mika Häkkinen. On the other hand, his teammate Charles Leclerc has a poor first lap, complaining about bottoming at turn 2.

The Mercedes cars then achieved good times, with Hamilton at 1:26.040 and George Russell 0.490 seconds behind him. The German team has chosen the soft tires for the start of this session.

Arriving on the track, Lando Norris complains that his front left brake is on fire, without consequences. A few moments later, it is Sebastian Vettel who informs his team that the front left is on fire. After 20 minutes of the session, a first Red Bull decides to go out on the track: Sergio Pérez sets off on mediums and initially positions himself behind George Russell in 7th place before taking the leading position with a time of 1:25.861.

Red flag caused by Pierre Gasly

We are approaching the halfway point of the session, and Max Verstappen is the only driver who has not yet gone out. Pierre Gasly is a victim of a puncture on his front right tire after a piece of hubcap flew off when the Frenchman went too fast over a kerb. This incident triggers a red flag, with the stewards having to collect the debris from his hubcap on the track. AlphaTauri later indicates that it was a mechanical failure of the “wheelbrow” mechanism.

Puncture for Gasly 😣

The front right tyre winglet flies off his car with his tyre deflating#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/t8f346P3HQ

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 19, 2022

The session quickly resumes, two minutes later. Lando Norris informs his team that Lewis Hamilton overtook him, as well as a Haas, under a red flag. On their part, the stewards notice that the Mercedes driver did not slow down under the red flag. The incident will be investigated after the session. Instant replays show that no red light appeared on his steering wheel at the crucial moment, and the sign on the side of the track did not display red either, but rather yellow. Although a different angle shows a physically waved red flag. The stewards will have a discussion with the seven-time world champion after the session. If found at fault, he could receive a reprimand or even a grid penalty.

📻 “Hamilton overtook the Haas as well under red flag” – Lando#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/oZimJWkkCZ

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 19, 2022

With less than 10 minutes remaining, both Red Bulls are leading the session, with Sergio Pérez setting the pace at 1:24.982, followed by the Mercedes in 3rd and 4th positions, followed by the McLarens. Almost all drivers are on soft tires, except for Carlos Sainz, who will change tires at the end of the session.

Charles Leclerc complains about engine oscillations when he’s not pressing the accelerator, while the Ferrari’s times are rather disappointing, 6th and 7th with 5 minutes left. “It’s not looking good, the softs went off after four corners,” says the Monégasque as he enters the pit lane.

The timings will remain frozen until the end of the session: therefore, Sergio Pérez finishes fastest, 0.152 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, followed by the two Mercedes. All eyes now turn to the qualifications, which will take place at 3pm.

The ranking of Free Practice 3 in Abu Dhabi