Sainz TOPS final practice despite Red Bull finally showing true pace at Italian Grand Prix
Sainz TOPS final practice despite Red Bull finally showing true pace at Italian Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz topped final practice at the Italian Grand Prix, ahead of Max Verstappen, who is chasing a record tenth consecutive race win this weekend.
The Spaniard put in a quickest time of one minute 20.912 seconds, 0.086 seconds ahead of the world championship leader.
After some disrupted running on Friday due to multiple red flags and drivers wanting to save tyres with new regulations being tested this weekend, Saturday practice gave a best look yet at what we might see in qualifying.
Verstappen was unable to get a clear fast lap in on Friday, which many thought may have been why we saw a Ferrari resurgence as Carlos Sainz topped the FP2 timseheets, but even with Verstappen putting in fast laps, Ferrari still had the pace to match and beat the Red Bull.
READ MORE: Verstappen TOPPLED as Hamilton complains about Mercedes in Monza FP2
Sainz's team-mate Charles Leclerc also managed to put his car in fourth, 0.574 seconds behind Sainz, but on older soft tyres.
It wasn't all plain sailing for Ferrari, however, as Sainz was also given a black and white flag during the session for impeding the McLaren of Oscar Piastri.
It's all building up nicely then going into qualifying, as Ferrari look to give their adoring home fans something to celebrate after a tough 2023 for the team so far.
More Perez woes
Sergio Perez hasn't had the best of weekends so far.
Having spun off on Friday in FP2, the Mexican would have been looking for a trouble-free session heading into qualifying.
However, after putting in some mediocre lap times in the early part of the session, Perez's car suffered an oil leak, meaning that he couldn't get back out onto the track.
The team will be hoping they can get it all sorted in time for qualifying, where the Mexican might be under pressure from the very quick Ferrari's and potentially the two Mercedes drivers too.
Mercedes looking quick
Mercedes are on a high this weekend, having announced on Thursday that both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have signed a new contract keeping them at the team until atleast 2025.
However, this balloon looked to have burst on Friday, when Hamilton was complaining about the straight line pace of his car, and finished FP2 in 17th.
Final practice was much better for the team, however, as Hamilton managed to put his car in third place, 0.541 behind leader Sainz, and Russell was just a little further back in sixth.
The will be hoping they can challenge the Red Bull's in qualifying later on Saturday.
Italian Grand Prix FP3 practice results - Saturday September 2
1. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): 1:20.912sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull): +0.086s
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): +0.541s
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0.574s
5. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +0.799s
6. George Russell (Mercedes): +0.818s
7. Kevin Magnussen (Haas): +0.972s
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas): +1.073s
9. Alex Albon (Williams): +1.142s
10. Sergio Perez (Red Bull): +1.280s
11. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): +1.333s
12. Liam Lawson (AlphaTauri): +1.384s
13. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri): +1.385s
14. Oscar Piastri (McLaren): +1.390s
15. Logan Sargeant (Williams): +1.468s
16. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo): +1.599s
17. Lando Norris (McLaren): +1.603s
18. Esteban Ocon (Alpine): +1.827s
19. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo): +1.830s
20. Pierre Gasly (Alpine): +1.940s
READ MORE: Toto Wolff: Net worth, wife and career profile of Mercedes giant
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Horner outlines Ricciardo target to save F1 dream as major Newey announcement made - GPFans F1 Recap
- 3 hours ago
Mercedes reveal shock RED livery to celebrate historic milestone
- Yesterday 22:57
Ricciardo makes five-race admission in bid to survive F1 axe
- Yesterday 21:57
Red Bull is 'burning' after Horner and Marko display
- Yesterday 20:57
Red Bull announce strong statement over Newey departure claims
- Yesterday 19:57
Verstappen 'to meet Mercedes over SHOCK 2025 move as Red Bull exit clause revealed'
- Yesterday 18:57
Related news
F1 boss confirms HISTORIC race in danger
Italian Grand Prix saw huge amount of F1 fans MISS key moments
Brundle admits Russell podium at Monza would have led to 'CHAOS'
Brundle claims under pressure F1 star 'back in control'
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860