BUDAPEST: Hungarian Grand Prix preparations intensified as McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the timesheets in the third and final free practice session ahead of Sunday’s Formula One race.

Norris posted a best lap of 1:17.939, finishing 0.117 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli secured third place, just 0.129 seconds behind the McLaren driver.

The session marked the first time this season that a Mercedes driver did not lead the final practice before qualifying, highlighting the closely contested battle at the Hungaroring.

McLaren and Ferrari Show Strong Pace

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Hamilton continued Ferrari’s encouraging form by finishing second, while teammate Charles Leclerc placed fourth.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri ended the session fifth, followed by Mercedes driver George Russell in sixth.

Defending world champion Max Verstappen finished seventh for Red Bull, ahead of teammate Isack Hadjar in eighth. Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson claimed ninth, while Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top 10 for Audi.

Track Repairs and High Temperatures Challenge Drivers

The session took place under scorching conditions, with track temperatures reaching 52°C after overnight repairs were carried out to reduce the circuit’s bumps following complaints from drivers on Friday.

Activity was briefly interrupted by a red flag after Sergio Perez’s Cadillac stopped at Turn Two with overheated brakes, bringing the session to a temporary halt.

Antonelli Impresses Before Norris Responds

Antonelli initially lost a fast lap after exceeding track limits but recovered strongly to move to the top of the standings after switching to fresh tyres.

Norris later reclaimed first place before Ferrari sent Hamilton and Leclerc out on new soft tyres during the closing minutes.

Hamilton briefly set the fastest lap, but Norris responded with the only lap under 1 minute 18 seconds, securing the fastest time before qualifying.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin’s upgraded B-spec cars struggled for pace, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finishing 17th and 18th respectively.

Alpine rookie Arvid Lindblad also faced technical problems after overnight repairs to teammate Franco Colapinto’s car, limiting his running until the final minutes of the session.

Qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix is scheduled later on Saturday, with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes expected to battle for pole position.