Formula 1British Grand Prix

Leclerc Tops FP3 as Red Flags Disrupt Silverstone

11 months agoUS
Leclerc Tops FP3 as Red Flags Disrupt SilverstoneSource: formula1.com
Charles Leclerc led the final practice session (FP3) for the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but the session was marred by two red flags. The first was caused by debris from Oliver Bearman's Haas, and the second by a crash from Gabriel Bortoleto in his Sauber. Despite the interruptions, Leclerc's time was enough to top the charts ahead of Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.

Key Insights

Charles Leclerc was the fastest in FP3 with a time of 1:25.498.

Oscar Piastri finished second, just 0.068 seconds behind Leclerc.

Max Verstappen was third, 0.087 seconds off the pace.

Two red flags disrupted the session, one due to debris from Oliver Bearman's car and another due to Gabriel Bortoleto's crash.

Lewis Hamilton was unable to improve his time due to the final red flag, finishing 11th.

Why this matters: The FP3 results provide a glimpse into the potential pecking order for qualifying. The close times between Leclerc, Piastri, and Verstappen suggest a tight battle for pole position. The red flags highlight the challenges drivers face at Silverstone, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on clean laps.

In-Depth Analysis

The final practice session at Silverstone saw Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the fastest time, but the session was far from smooth. Early on, Lewis Hamilton set a strong pace, delighting the home crowd. However, as the session progressed, Leclerc, Verstappen and the McLarens of Norris and Piastri all traded fast times.

The first red flag was triggered when bodywork debris from Oliver Bearman’s Haas scattered across the track. The session was restarted, but only briefly before Gabriel Bortoleto crashed his Sauber at the high-speed Becketts complex, causing significant damage to his car's suspension and bringing out the second, and final, red flag.

Several drivers, including Hamilton and Russell, were on promising laps when the red flags came out, leaving them unable to improve their positions. This disrupted running could have implications for qualifying, as teams and drivers were left with incomplete data.

Here's a look at the top 10:

1.

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:25.498

2.

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.068

3.

Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.087

4.

Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.108

5.

Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) +0.606

6.

Oliver Bearman (Haas) +0.614

7.

Alex Albon (Williams) +0.621

8.

George Russell (Mercedes) +0.627

9.

Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +0.631

10.

Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +0.758

FAQs

Q: Why were there red flags during FP3?

The first red flag was due to debris from Oliver Bearman's car. The second was caused by Gabriel Bortoleto's crash.

Q: How did the red flags affect the session?

The red flags prevented drivers from completing their runs and improving their lap times, potentially impacting their preparations for qualifying.

Q: Who were the top three drivers in FP3?

Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen.

Key Takeaways

Charles Leclerc demonstrated strong pace, but qualifying will be crucial.

Red flags can significantly impact race weekend preparations, so adaptability is key.

McLaren and Red Bull appear to be strong contenders, setting up an exciting qualifying session.

Discussion

Do you think Leclerc can carry his FP3 pace into qualifying? Who will get pole position? Let us know in the comments below!

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