Lando Norris stole the show in the final practice session, Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 FP3, setting the pace with a mind-blowing lap time of 1:41.223 around the challenging Baku City Circuit. This marked a remarkable turnaround for McLaren, which had struggled through Friday’s earlier sessions. Norris ended FP3 fastest, just 0.222 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with teammate Oscar Piastri a fraction further back in third.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 FP3 Recap
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 FP3 was marked by tricky conditions, including strong, shifting winds that kept drivers on their toes. Most of the excitement happened in the second half, as teams balanced the need for speed with preserving their medium tyres ahead of Sunday’s race. Ferrari showed strong promise as well, with Lewis Hamilton finishing a close fourth, continuing the momentum he built in FP2, and Charles Leclerc ending just outside the top ten after brushing the wall earlier.
Interestingly, McLaren’s resurgence appeared even more pronounced given Piastri’s recovery from a reliability issue that hampered his Friday running. Both McLaren drivers demonstrated impressive pace and composure, hinting at a potentially strong qualifying performance. Mercedes’ young star Andrea Kimi Antonelli also impressed, placing fifth ahead of teammate George Russell, who is still recovering from illness.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 FP3 mostly remained clean, with no major incidents, though Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris had minor touches with the wall, a constant risk at Baku’s narrow sections. The wind and track conditions ensured the session was far from straightforward, testing drivers’ precision and teams’ strategy.
As the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 FP3 ended, the scene was set for an intriguing qualifying session with McLaren leading the charge but closely chased by Red Bull and Ferrari. The balance of power here suggests a fiercely competitive weekend ahead, with tyre management and track position likely to be critical factors.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 FP3 Results
| POS. | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME / GAP | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:41.223 | 18 |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +0.222s | 18 |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.254s | 20 |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.276s | 18 |
| 5 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.653s | 16 |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.741s | 16 |
| 7 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | +0.760s | 18 |
| 8 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +0.762s | 22 |
| 9 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +0.923s | 20 |
| 10 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.986s | 18 |
| 11 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +1.044s | 21 |
| 12 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | +1.205s | 17 |
| 13 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +1.263s | 16 |
| 14 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +1.368s | 17 |
| 15 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +1.566s | 18 |
| 16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | +1.617s | 17 |
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1.645s | 19 |
| 18 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | +1.837s | 15 |
| 19 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +2.099s | 21 |
| 20 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +2.127s | 17 |
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