The Oscar Piastri Hungarian GP weekend took an exciting turn as the McLaren driver delivered a stunning performance in final practice at the Hungaroring. Beating team-mate Lando Norris by just 0.032s, Piastri showed he has the pace to challenge for more than just a top-three finish.
McLaren Set the Tone Early
The session began slowly, with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto setting the first lap. Yuki Tsunoda briefly held the top spot before Max Verstappen put his Red Bull ahead. But as the track gripped up, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell traded the fastest time.
Piastri Finds Another Gear
Piastri, running on fresh Soft tyres, clocked an impressive 1:15.871 before lowering the benchmark to 1:14.916. His final run put him almost eight-tenths clear before Norris closed the gap with a late flyer. Leclerc slotted into third, 0.4 seconds behind the Australian.
Strong Midfield Showings
Lewis Hamilton, now in Ferrari colours, was fourth ahead of Mercedes’ young star Kimi Antonelli. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll locked out sixth and seventh, with George Russell in eighth. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top ten.
Verstappen Struggles Continue
Reigning champion Max Verstappen could only manage 12th, as Red Bull’s pace woes persisted. With qualifying looming, the team has work to do to challenge McLaren and Ferrari.
Hungarian GP FP3 Results
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 7 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 8 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber |
| 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 12 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 13 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 14 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 16 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 17 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 18 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 19 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
| 20 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
Summary
Piastri’s commanding FP3 performance at the Hungarian GP sets the stage for an exciting qualifying session. With McLaren’s form looking strong and Ferrari in the mix, the fight for pole is far from settled.
Disclaimer: All times and positions are based on official FIA Free Practice 3 results and are subject to change after stewards’ decisions.
