F1 Mexico GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3
Minute-by-minute updates for FP3 for the 2024 Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix
The Mexico Grand Prix hosts the second part of the Americas Formula 1 triple-header as the championship begins the run-up to its climax.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz earned Ferrari a 1-2 at the Circuit of the Americas last weekend but much of the focus was on the controversy behind as Max Verstappen inherited third from title rival Lando Norris - the McLaren driver penalised for overtaking off-track.
Sainz ended Friday on top at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as a Pirelli tyre test took the spotlight, though that didn't stop George Russell from crashing and Verstappen having engine issues.
Who will take pole position? Final practice gives teams the last chance to get set-ups right before qualifying and gets under way at 6:30pm BST.
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Talking of Gasly, he has gone straight on at T1 and taken a trip across the grass.
He did exactly the same thing yesterday.
Just 0.045s separates the top two, with Hamilton way further back.
The more representative qualifying sims will come later in the session, as Ocon goes ahead of team-mate Gasly on a set of mediums.
That's the fastest time so far! That's one way to recover for Russell as he shades Verstappen's effort to go top.
He lost a lot of time in the final sector, some six-tenths, to go second of the two soft-tyre runs.
Russell is much quicker...
Both Mercedes drivers are on softs but Hamilton is struggling on his tyres.
A lock-up into T4 and understeer at T5 means he is narrowly shy of Verstappen's time in the first two sectors.
Russell's installation clearly went well as he now rejoins the track, with Hamilton, Ocon and Verstappen also on track.
Zhou has done another out-in lap for Sauber, which is an intriguing run plan.
Only Gasly is left on track after the two Saubers and two Aston Martins pit - the Frenchman is on a set of mediums.
Unsurprisingly he is some way down on the 1m18.3s Verstappen set.
That's important for the Dutchman who can get his head down for the day.
Russell went straight back into the pits at the end of what was an installation lap as Verstappen crosses the line to complete a lap without issue.
Verstappen is also out nice and early - he's on a set of softs to try and make up for lost time yesterday.
Russell is the first out, completing a practice start on his way.
Here we go, the green light is on!
Russell wasn't the only one to crash yesterday - Albon hit Ferrari rookie stand-in Bearman in FP1. But both cars are fine to take part for the weekend, even if Albon missed FP2 completely.
While that controversy will likely linger for a while, it is time to turn attention to FP3, which gets under way shortly.
A hugely important 60 minutes given the lack of set-up running from yesterday.
If you haven't seen the news from the early hours of this morning, McLaren's right of review request was dismissed by the FIA.
Max Verstappen had a miserable day with his Red Bull beset with an engine issue.
He was restricted to just a handful of laps and has had to switch power units, though the new one is from the existing pool and therefore will not take a penalty.
"In order to repair George’s car for FP3, we used our second of two allowed ‘jokers’ last night and thus broke curfew. As it is only the second time we have done this so far this year, no penalty will be incurred," said a Mercedes statement.
"We have had to change the chassis but, after checks, the power unit and gearbox were OK."
Marshals remove the damaged car of George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, from the circuit after a crash in FP2
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
George Russell topped FP1, which was the only representative running of Friday with FP2 set aside for a Pirelli tyre test.
But his day ended in the barriers after a heavy crash at Turn 9, meaning a big rebuild for Mercedes.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of final practice for the Mexico Grand Prix.
It was a dramatic first day at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, what does Saturday have in store?
By: Ewan Gale
