In an action-packed third and final practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, George Russell delivered an impressive performance to place Mercedes at the top of the timing sheets. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris followed closely behind, as red flags and rain added drama to the session – including a crash for Formula 2 driver Ollie Bearman.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 FP3: Tricky Conditions in Baku
After sunny conditions in the earlier sessions, FP3 presented a new challenge for drivers, as clouds and drizzle greeted them on the Baku City Circuit. The already dusty and slippery track became even more treacherous, with light rain causing some grip concerns. Despite this, slick tyres remained the preferred choice, and the session got underway with drivers cautiously taking to the circuit.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 FP3: Quiet Start and Early Drama
The first part of the session was relatively quiet, as drivers waited for the track to improve. However, the calm was broken when Esteban Ocon’s Alpine encountered trouble in the final sector. Struggling with power unit issues that had plagued him throughout the weekend, Ocon was forced to stop his car, triggering the first red flag of the day.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 FP3: Williams Leads Before Bearman’s Crash
After the session resumed, rain continued to fall in spots, making conditions tricky for all drivers. Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto briefly led the pack, forming a surprising Williams one-two. They were followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz as the lap times began to tumble.
The session then took a dramatic turn when Haas’ Ollie Bearman misjudged his entry into Turn 1, crashing into the barriers. Bearman, who tried to take the escape road, severely damaged his car and brought out the second red flag. Over the radio, Bearman expressed his frustration, apologizing to his team for the crash.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 FP3: Russell’s Late Surge
As the session progressed, Leclerc set the early benchmark with a time of 1m 42.564s. Norris momentarily pipped his teammate Oscar Piastri for second, while Verstappen slotted into fourth. Despite struggling with power unit issues and balance concerns, George Russell found pace in the final moments, clocking a rapid 1m 42.514s to snatch the top spot.
Leclerc made a slight improvement to close in on Russell, but it wasn’t enough, leaving the Mercedes driver at the top of the timesheets. The McLaren duo of Norris and Piastri dropped to third and fourth, respectively, while Verstappen rounded out the top five.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 FP3: Sainz and Perez Clash; Williams Impresses
Behind the leading pack, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez were involved in a late-session incident at Turn 15, where the Ferrari driver felt hindered by the Red Bull. Despite the on-track drama, both drivers completed the session without major issues, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.
In a strong showing for Williams, Albon and Colapinto ended the session in eighth and ninth, offering hope for a solid qualifying performance. Lewis Hamilton completed the top 10 in the second Mercedes, struggling for pace compared to his teammate.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 FP3 Results Table
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:42.514 | 15 | |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:42.527 | +0.013s | 17 |
| 3 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:42.737 | +0.223s | 15 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:42.749 | +0.235s | 14 |
| 5 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:42.862 | +0.348s | 16 |
| 6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:42.968 | +0.454s | 17 |
| 7 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:43.024 | +0.510s | 16 |
| 8 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:43.194 | +0.680s | 14 |
| 9 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Williams Mercedes | 1:43.238 | +0.724s | 15 |
| 10 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:43.301 | +0.787s | 13 |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:43.474 | +0.960s | 15 |
| 12 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT | 1:43.503 | +0.989s | 17 |
| 13 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:43.571 | +1.057s | 19 |
| 14 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT | 1:43.870 | +1.356s | 18 |
| 15 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:43.876 | +1.362s | 15 |
| 16 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 1:44.164 | +1.650s | 13 |
| 17 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:44.187 | +1.673s | 18 |
| 18 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:44.869 | +2.355s | 20 |
| 19 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault | 1 | ||
| 20 | 50 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 2 |
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 FP3: Midfield Battle and Bearman’s Setback
Further down the order, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), and Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) completed the midfield pack. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg of Haas rounded out the top 15.
Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu (Sauber) took 17th and 18th, while Ocon and Bearman failed to set representative times due to their issues. With qualifying approaching, attention now shifts to the battle for pole position in what promises to be an exciting afternoon.
The final practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was filled with unpredictable weather, red flags, and impressive performances. George Russell led the way, but with Leclerc and Norris close behind, the stage is set for a thrilling qualifying session later in the day. All eyes will be on the drivers as they tackle the challenging Baku City Circuit in pursuit of pole position.
