Kimi Antonelli Dominates Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying Amidst Bearman Crash and Verstappen Struggles
The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session at Suzuka saw Kimi Antonelli continue his impressive form, securing his second consecutive p...
Lando Norris topped the timesheets in FP3 with a time of 1:04.324.
Oscar Piastri finished second, just 0.118s behind Norris, continuing McLaren's strong form.
Max Verstappen was third, 0.210s off the pace, reporting handling issues and experiencing a spin.
Ferrari showed improvement, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were sixth and seventh for Mercedes.
Why this matters: McLaren's strong showing suggests they could be the team to beat in qualifying. Verstappen's struggles could open the door for a McLaren pole position. Ferrari's improved pace indicates they are making progress with their upgrades.
The final practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix saw McLaren continue their impressive form, with Lando Norris leading the way. Norris's pace builds on McLaren's strong performance from Friday, establishing them as a team to beat with their recent upgrades. Max Verstappen, who has historically performed well at the Red Bull Ring, struggled with the balance of his car, spinning late in the session. This could impact his qualifying performance. Ferrari's Leclerc and Hamilton showed improved pace, potentially benefiting from a new floor on their cars.
Track limits continue to be a challenge for all drivers, with several forced to abort laps after running wide. Piastri also ran over gravel, causing floor damage to his car.
The top 10 were rounded out by Lance Stroll and Gabriel Bortoleto, who showed solid pace. With qualifying approaching, teams will be analyzing the data to optimize their cars for what promises to be a competitive session.
Q: Who was fastest in FP3 at the Austrian Grand Prix?
Lando Norris of McLaren topped the timesheets with a time of 1:04.324.
Q: What issues did Max Verstappen face during FP3?
Verstappen struggled with car handling, reporting nervousness on throttle and experiencing a spin.
Q: Did Ferrari show any improvement in FP3?
Yes, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth, indicating improvement with their upgraded car floor.
McLaren is looking strong, with both drivers in top form.
Verstappen is struggling with car balance, potentially impacting his qualifying performance.
Ferrari has made progress, closing the gap to the leaders.
Qualifying promises to be a competitive session, with several teams in contention for pole position.
Do you think McLaren can maintain their dominance in qualifying? Will Verstappen overcome his handling issues? Let us know your predictions! Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!
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