McLaren's Norris Tops Mexico City GP Free Practice 3

Lando Norris of McLaren dominated the final Free Practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, setting the fastest time ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and George Russell (Mercedes). This session, a crucial prelude to qualifying, saw teams fine-tuning their setups for the challenging high-altitude Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Why it matters:

Norris's strong showing signals McLaren's potential competitiveness this weekend, especially given the tight margins and unpredictable nature of the Mexico City circuit. His performance puts him in a prime position heading into qualifying, which is critical for track position on a circuit where overtaking can be difficult.

The Details:

• Norris's Pace: Lando Norris set the benchmark with a 1:16.633s, demonstrating McLaren's strong form. He completed 21 laps.
• Ferrari's Challenge: Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, was 0.345s behind Norris, showcasing Ferrari's improved pace. His teammate Charles Leclerc finished 4th.
• Mercedes' Consistency: George Russell secured third place, with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressively taking seventh, highlighting Mercedes' continued presence at the sharp end.
• Red Bull's Position: Max Verstappen, a usual front-runner, finished sixth, over half a second off Norris's pace, suggesting Red Bull might have more in hand or are struggling to find optimal balance.
• Notable Performances: Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) secured respectable eighth and ninth positions, respectively.
• Struggling Teams: Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso finished at the very bottom, nearly two seconds off the pace, raising concerns for their qualifying prospects.

The big picture:

The high altitude of Mexico City significantly impacts car performance, making engine power, cooling, and aerodynamic efficiency crucial. The varied results across the top teams indicate that no single team has a definitive advantage, setting the stage for a highly competitive qualifying session. McLaren's consistent performance throughout the practice sessions suggests they've found a good balance, while Ferrari and Mercedes are also looking strong. Red Bull's slightly subdued performance could be a strategy play or an indication of real challenges.

What's next:

Teams will now analyze the vast amounts of data collected from FP3 to make their final adjustments before the all-important qualifying session later today. The grid positions set in qualifying will be critical, as the circuit's layout and altitude can make race strategy and overtakes particularly challenging. All eyes will be on Norris to see if he can convert his practice pace into a strong qualifying result, while Verstappen and the Ferraris will undoubtedly be pushing hard to challenge for pole.