The 2021 Formula One Grand Prix of Spain – Free Practice 3

 

Fernando Alonso was the very first driver on the race track Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Free Practice 3. A picture of Fernando Alonso during the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1.
| Image: © XPB / James Moy Photography |

 

It's Saturday, May 8, 2021, we are going to enjoy the Free Practice 3 of the  Formula 1 Aramco Gran Premio De España 2021 

 

 

The weather looks beautiful. We have blue skies with air temperature 23 C / 73 F race track temperature is 37 C / 98 F; Humidity is 55%; Wind - South West 5.4 km/h.

 

 

Who is going to be the first driver on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the FP3? We're just about to know. It's 57:01 all teams are still in the box.

 

54:31 We have Fernando Alonso on medium tires - the very first driver on the race track for the Free Practice 3. Clear track and he's able to enjoy the whole race track before other drivers get out for their practice.

 

Alonso is making 1:21.020 the best lap time as this is the very first flying lap.

 

50:20 Alonso is called to get back in the “Box - box. Box-box.”

 

 

49:03 Sergio Perez is the second driver on the track for the Free Practice 3. Perez set 1:20.388 lap time for P1.

 

45:30 1:20.583 for Daniel Ricardo P2.

 

43:59 Raikkonen has S1 - purple; S2 - purple; S3 - yellow 1:19.732 (Perez P1). Right after Giovanazzi set a new best time of 1:19.368 P1.

 

42:42 We're following Sainz and his time compared to the Giovanazzi's. Sainz is making S1 - green, S2- green; S3 - green 1.19.789.

 

I'm seeing that other drivers’ time-to-time sector colors are changed. First, they occur in the fastest color purple, and then it's changed on the overall time.

 

 

38:52 Norris is +0.925 P7 after Leclerc 1.18.998 P1

 

37:55 Sainz did +0.167 P2 after Lec who meanwhile is making 1:18.8 both Ferrari drivers are on soft tires. It's nice to see Ferarri back in the game with best times close to the P1 compared to the FP1 and FP2.

 

36:02 Bottas is making his best lap time 1:18.423 P1.

 

35:28 On medium tires is Max Verstappen who sets +0.207 P2 after Bottas.

 

35:02 Hamilton sets his best lap time for the first time during FP3. He makes S1 - green; S2- purple; S3 -purple for 1:18.304 P1.

 

31:31 Verstappen received a message from the box. The telemetrics says that Max is quicker on S1, about 0.005 s down on S2, and 0.020 s on S3 compared to Mercedes on soft. Max is on medium tires.

 

 

27:46 Hamilton is on P1 with best lap time 1:18.117. Both Bottas and Verstappen are on out laps respectively P2 and P3. A little bit later we have Bottas +0.3 soft tires, Max +0.5 medium tires.

 

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15:49 Lewis hamilton is on soft tires trying to beat his best lap time. S1 green, S2 purple; S3 yellow 1:18.178. I'm still wondering why during the lap some sectors are shown as fast ones. Then right after the end of the lap, they are changed as slower sectors?! Which is that point that changes the overall performance?!

 

12:58 Kimi has a puncher on the rear right tire and he's driving home nice and slowly.

 

13:39 Lando Noris is finding his way back on the track because he didn't get out on the best way on the exit on T10.

 

10:42Max received a message to be easy on the tires.

 

 

10 minutes to go

 

9:21 We have Hamilton on P1  still 1:18.117. Leclecerc is +0.238 P2 and Sainz +0.340.

 

8:44 Verstappen set a new fastest lap of 1:17.835 and now he is on P1. Hamilton +0.235; Leclerc - out lap.

 

 

5 minutes to go

 

The FP3 ends with top 3 drivers Verstappen P1, Hamilton P2 out lap, Leclerc 473 P3.