Russell Beats Norris to FP3 Top Spot as Hamilton Crashes Out in Dramatic Abu Dhabi Session

Sports

George Russell set the benchmark in the final practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, denying Lando Norris the top spot in a closely contested FP3 that also saw a major crash for Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari.

Running in hot early evening conditions at the Yas Marina Circuit, teams focused heavily on single lap performance ahead of the season’s last qualifying session. Norris led most of FP3 with consistently strong laps for McLaren, looking in control on the soft tyres. But in the closing minutes Russell delivered a superb lap in his Mercedes, going fastest in the opening sector and completing a clean push lap to take P1.

The biggest incident came from Hamilton, who lost the rear of his Ferrari approaching Turn 14. The car snapped sideways under braking and slid into the barriers, causing significant damage to the rear suspension and bodywork. A red flag was immediately brought out as marshals recovered the car. Hamilton walked away unhurt, but Ferrari now face a race against time to repair the car before qualifying begins.

Behind the leading duo, Charles Leclerc secured third with a strong late lap, giving Ferrari some encouragement despite Hamilton’s crash. Max Verstappen finished fourth after reporting balance issues, particularly on corner entry, as Red Bull continued adjusting their setup for cooler nighttime conditions.

Further back, young prospect Kimi Antonelli impressed once again with a composed session and competitive pace relative to the front runners. Aston Martin shifted their focus to long run preparations, leaving their lap times outside the top positions but gathering valuable race data.

With Russell showing late session pace, Norris consistently quick, Verstappen still searching for stability, and Hamilton entering qualifying under pressure following his crash, FP3 sets the stage for a tense and unpredictable qualifying showdown under the Abu Dhabi lights.