FP3 confirmed that Ferrari is the team to watch in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. However, it won’t be an easy task for the Reds, as Max Verstappen from Red Bull is expected to pose a tough challenge to Charles Leclerc in Q3 later today. Carlos Sainz also showed impressive pace, securing the third fastest time.
Despite a difficult Friday and a shaky start in FP3, Mercedes seems to have made improvements, as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished in fourth and fifth places, respectively. The question now is whether the Silver Arrows can maintain their performance in qualifying or if McLaren and Aston Martin have something different in mind.
Qualifying promises to be intense and exciting, with the top ten drivers from FP3 separated by just one second. The smallest of margins will have a significant impact on who advances from Q1 and who doesn’t.
Interestingly, drivers struggled to improve their lap times using the soft tires compared to the mediums. The best performances were often achieved on the second or third quick lap, with the medium tires providing better results.
The first day of action in Australia proved to be thrilling, with drivers realizing that mistakes will be costly at Albert Park. Unlike other circuits, there are no run-off areas or painted kerbs here, just gravel, grass, and real kerbs.
Ferrari seems determined to challenge Red Bull at Albert Park, as evidenced by their strong pace in the second practice session. However, it would be unwise to underestimate Verstappen and his superior race pace in the RB20.
On the other hand, Mercedes is facing difficulties, with Hamilton struggling due to a wrong setup on the W15. The team hopes to make improvements in the final practice session and before qualifying.
While Aston Martin seems promising, McLaren is also showing signs of competitiveness. The battle for the title of third fastest team in the standings will be interesting to watch.
Unfortunately, Williams is going through a disastrous situation, with no spare chassis available. The driver who didn’t crash had to give up his car to the driver who crashed. These are not the kind of problems a team boss wants to deal with during a race weekend, but James Vowles finds himself in such a situation. He needs to act quickly.
Furthermore, Sainz seems to be in good shape for the race, while Oliver Bearman will probably only experience jet lag from his trip to Melbourne.
The big question now is how the overall picture will look after FP3.
The final practice session started with cloudy conditions and a track temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, while the ambient temperature was 18 degrees.
Leading the pack for the start of the session was Oscar Piastri, followed by his teammate Lando Norris. After completing a warm-up lap, Piastri, the local hero, quickly returned to the pits.
Next, Sergio Perez got into action, along with Verstappen, both Aston Martins and the Saubers, while the rest of the drivers remained in their pits.
Eventually, only the Red Bull cars were on track, with Verstappen expressing frustration that his brakes were not working properly. Despite the issue, he continued to push and set a lap time that was six tenths faster than Perez’s. Perez, in turn, also complained that his brakes were lacking bite.
The Mexican driver then improved his time by six tenths, surpassing his teammate. At that moment, they were the only two drivers on track. Verstappen continued to go even faster.
Meanwhile, Sainz joined the Red Bull drivers and set the third fastest time, with his teammate Leclerc also on track, along with Alex Albon from Williams.
Leclerc managed to secure the third fastest time on his first attempt, while Sainz tried again. At this point, only the Ferraris and Albon were still on track, over 15 minutes into the session.
However, Hamilton soon appeared, using soft tires on his W15 to set a timed lap. Unfortunately, he was over 1.5 seconds slower than Verstappen, who was leading the pack at that moment using medium tires. Hamilton was informed of the significant time difference and naturally was surprised.
As the session reached the 20-minute mark, more cars started to hit the track. Sainz set the fastest time at that moment using medium tires, while Russell completed his first lap on soft tires, which was over 1.6 seconds slower than Sainz’s time.
Approaching the halfway point of the session, the track became busier, with all cars on track completing their laps.
Leclerc had a slight moment on the penultimate lap, as the rear of the car stepped out as soon as he accelerated. However, he managed to regain control and continued on his way.
Hamilton was informed he was 1.3 seconds slower and questioned where he was losing time. He was told he was losing seven tenths on the straights. He later improved his time, reducing the gap to seven tenths, but the Mercedes car did not seem to perform well on the track.
Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg reported discomfort in his helmet, stating that too much air was coming in. He requested a change to solve the issue.
In addition to the Red Bulls, Ferraris, and Albon, who were using medium tires, all other cars were on soft tires up to the 30-minute mark.
Albon had a brief moment where he lost control of the rear of the car at Turn 9, but fortunately managed to keep the car on track. He reported that the rear tires were worn.
In the end, Piastri crossed the finish line in third place, showing impressive pace as a local driver.
Piastri moves up to third place with less than 20 minutes remaining, after being informed that he set the fastest time in the first sector. He jokes, saying: “It’s amazing what you can achieve when you stop making silly mistakes at Turn 1.”
Meanwhile, Russell expresses his frustration at repeatedly finding his teammate on track. He says: “Every time I come across Lewis.”
As the final ten minutes approach, the track becomes even busier as drivers focus on qualifying laps using soft tires. Hamilton seems to be improving his lap times, although onboard footage reveals he is making a significant effort to control his W15. Russell, on the other hand, seems more satisfied with his car’s performance.
Interestingly, it seems that drivers are not easily finding additional speed on the soft tires. Verstappen reports that he can’t go faster in high-speed corners using this tire compound. Sainz, similarly, can’t improve his lap time with the soft tires compared to his previous best time on mediums.
The session ends with practice starts.
Leclerc sets the fastest time in FP3, clocking 1:16.714. This time is slightly faster than Verstappen’s pole position time in 2023 at Albert Park.
Verstappen finishes 0.020s behind in second place, with Sainz trailing a further 0.057s in third.
Report in progress…
© 2024
The Brazilian driver, Pedro Silva, achieved an impressive victory in the Formula 1 Grand Prix last Sunday. The race was full of excitement and twists, but Silva managed to overcome all obstacles and cross the finish line in first place. With this win, he becomes the new leader of the championship.
The race started with a chaotic start, with several cars touching each other and some even abandoning the race early on. Silva managed to avoid the accidents and gained several positions, placing himself among the top contenders. He showed skill and determination in overtaking his opponents and taking the lead in the race.
During the race, Silva faced challenges such as intense rain and pressure from rival drivers. However, he did not let himself be discouraged and continued to accelerate strongly, maintaining the advantage over the other competitors. His performance was impeccable and he crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead.
This victory is a milestone in Pedro Silva’s career, who has been standing out more and more in the Formula 1 scene. At just 25 years old, he has already achieved several podium finishes and now leads the championship. His determination and talent are admirable, and Brazilian fans are proud of his performance.
The next stage of the championship will be in two weeks, and Silva is already preparing for another challenge. He knows he needs to stay focused and continue working hard to maintain the lead. With his determination and skill, there is no doubt that he has everything it takes to become one of the great names in Formula 1.
Fans are eager to see what the future holds for Pedro Silva and hope he continues to shine on the tracks. His victory in the Formula 1 Grand Prix was just the beginning of a promising career. Brazil has a new hero in motorsport, and his name is Pedro Silva.
