Oscar Piastri set the fastest lap, clocking 1min16s492.

It seemed that Ferrari would dominate the third free practice session for the Mexican GP, ​​this Saturday, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc taking turns in first place, but McLaren took the lead in the final part of the session and Oscar Piastri made the fastest lap. fast, clocking 1min16s492.

In the last activity before qualifying in Mexico City, only the Australian, his teammate, Lando Norris, and the Spaniard from Ferrari managed to run in the 1min16 mark. The three-time World Cup champion and leader, Max Verstappen, set the fourth fastest time and complained on the radio about the lack of grip on his Red Bull.

The Dutch driver, who had his car’s engine changed, was the first to record a time at the Hermanos Rodríguez racetrack, covering the circuit in 1min18s397, on soft compounds. With his Mercedes practically rebuilt after the accident in the second free practice on Friday, George Russell recorded 1min18s284 and surpassed the World Cup leader. Lewis Hamilton entered the fight for the top positions with 0s704 behind the pair.

When the Ferrari took to the track, the times dropped to 1min18. Second place in TL1 and leader with the best lap in TL2, Carlos Sainz clocked 1s17s825, followed very closely by Charles Leclerc, just 0s064 slower.

After the first 20 minutes of activity, Sainz had the fastest lap of FP3, followed by Leclerc, Lando Norris’ McLaren and Hamilton and Russell’s Mercedes. Young Liam Lawson, Daniel Riccardo’s replacement at RB, caught the curb, spun off the track, but managed to avoid the crash.

Halfway through training, Leclerc took first place in training, with 1min17s616, but was subsequently surpassed by Sainz by 0s169. Verstappen, in tenth, found it difficult to find the car’s setup and was 0s882 slower.

After a fight with Sainz, who had hindered him, Piastri accelerated and left McLaren just behind Ferrari, occupying fourth place, 0s469 behind the leader’s best time.

With 20 minutes left to reset the clock, Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, from RB, took third place, ahead of the McLaren cars, but 0s5 behind Sainz. At the front, the Spaniard and Leclerc were fighting a separate duel, reversing positions and, consequently, improving their own marks.

The third training session gained excitement again in the final 15 minutes. Verstappen clocked 1min17s003, the best time of the weekend so far, but was soon surpassed by Piastri and Norris, both from McLaren, who ran under 1min16, with the Australian clocking 1min16s492.

Back on the track, Ferrari was unable to catch the leaders. Sainz moved into third place, 0s340 behind Piastri, and Leclerc finished sixth, 0s740 slower than the Australian. Verstappen and Hamilton positioned themselves between the red cars.

In the final seconds, Leclerc tried to improve his time, without success. Host Sergio Pérez and Fernando Alonso, who will reach the milestone of 400 Formula 1 races, didn’t have much to celebrate, finishing training in 14th and 15th place, respectively.

McLaren will try to maintain its dominance in the qualifying session, which will take place this Saturday, at 6pm (Brasília time). The Mexican GP takes place on Sunday, starting at 5pm

Check out the results of the third free practice session of the Mexican GP:

1st – Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren), 1min16s492

2º – Lando Norris (ING/McLaren), a 0s059

3rd – Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari), at 0s340

4º – Max Verstappen (HOL/Red Bull), a 0s511

5º – Lewis Hamilton (ING/Mercedes), a 0s568

6º – Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari), a 0s740

7º – Yuki Tsunoda (JAP/RB), a 0s810

8º – George Russell (ING/Mercedes), a 0s849

9º – Kevin Magnussen (DIN/Haas), a 0s982

10º – Liam Lawson (NEO/RB), a 1s002

11th – Alexander Albon (TAI/Williams), at 1s019

12º – Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Kick Sauber), a 1s147

13º – Franco Colapinto (ARG/Williams), at 1s220

14th – Sérgio Perez (MEX/Red Bull), 1s295

15th – Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin), at 1s306

16º – Nico Hulkenberg (ALE/Haas), and 1s327

17º – Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin), a 1s408

18th – Stephen Ocon (FRA/Alpine), 1s8

19º – Zhou Ghuanyu (CHN/Kick Sauber), a 1s936

20º – Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine), a 1s962