Image: from RBM-(Prensa/Difusion) X@MBiondiPrensa
By José Carlos Palma
The final free practice session of the 2025 Formula 1 season saw George Russell emerge as the fastest driver, setting a blistering time of 1:23.334 at the Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Russell, driving for Mercedes, was in impressive form as he ended the session ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, who narrowly missed out on the top spot, finishing just 0.004 seconds behind his rival.
The session, which took place on Saturday, December 6, was crucial for teams to make their final adjustments ahead of qualifying, and it saw some close competition among the top drivers. Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, and Oscar Piastri completed the top five, while a mix of track incidents and strong performances added drama to the session.
The third free practice of the Abu Dhabi GP took place in warm conditions, with temperatures reaching 27°C in the air and a searing 39°C on the asphalt. The humidity was also high, at around 65%, making it challenging for teams to set fast lap times early on. However, the drivers eventually got up to speed as the session progressed.
The first few minutes were relatively uneventful, with only the Aston Martin duo, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, making their way out of the pits. Soon after, drivers from Alpine began their runs on soft tires, and Pierre Gasly set the first notable time. However, Lando Norris quickly jumped to the top of the timesheets with a 1:24.728, followed by Charles Leclerc, who was over a second behind Norris.
As the session continued, Verstappen, Stroll, and Lewis Hamilton began to make their presence felt on the timesheets. At the halfway mark, Verstappen set the fastest time of 1:24.245, with Stroll and Hamilton close behind. The session took a dramatic turn when Hamilton went off track and crashed into the barriers. This triggered a red flag as his car was stuck, requiring assistance to remove it from the circuit.
Once the session resumed, there were further incidents involving Yuki Tsunoda and Lando Norris, who nearly collided on track. The FIA indicated an investigation would follow after the session concluded.
As the session approached its final 15 minutes, all drivers were on track, with several of them making their final attempts to set a quick lap. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri temporarily moved to the top with a time of 1:23.593, but Norris soon took back the position with a 1:23.338. However, it was George Russell who would steal the spotlight in the final moments, setting the fastest time of the session with a 1:23.334, just edging Norris by 0.004 seconds.
Despite the focus being on the title contenders, Russell remained undeterred and displayed his pace on the day. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri completed the top three, with Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon rounding out the top five.
Final Results from FP3:
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George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:23.334
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Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:23.338
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1:23.458
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Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1:23.585
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:23.593
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Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:23.605
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Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:23.609
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:23.675
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:23.707
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Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) – 1:23.722
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Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1:23.791
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Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes) – 1:23.811
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Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1:23.870
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Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1:23.895
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) – 1:23.947
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Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) – 1:23.979
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Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault) – 1:24.072
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:24.470
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Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Renault) – 1:24.501
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1:24.693
With this session marking the final practice before qualifying, it’s clear that the battle for pole position is heating up. However, with Russell’s impressive performance in FP3, the stage is set for an exciting showdown as the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend heads into its decisive stages. The qualifying session, set for later today, will determine the starting grid for the final race of the season.