Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning performance in the 2025 Australian GP final practice(FP3) topping the timesheets at Albert Park setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session.
The young McLaren driver clocked a blistering lap time of 1:15.921, edging out Mercedes’ George Russell by just 0.039 seconds and reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen by 0.081 seconds.
The 2025 Australian GP final practice session highlighted the razor-thin margins separating the top drivers, with less than a tenth of a second covering the top three competitors.
Oscar Piastri’s achievement was particularly significant as it marked his first FP3 lead at his home Grand Prix, a feat that electrified Australian fans. His pace demonstrated McLaren’s strong start to the 2025 F1 season, continuing their momentum from 2024.
While Piastri excelled, his teammate Lando Norris faced challenges during the session. Despite showing promising pace, Norris aborted a lap in the final sector that could have placed him among the top three, ultimately finishing in 10th place.
Meanwhile, Mercedes showcased competitive form with George Russell securing second place and rookie Kimi Antonelli impressing in fifth.
Russell’s performance underscored Mercedes’ capability to challenge Red Bull and McLaren at the front of the grid. Antonelli’s fifth-place finish demonstrated his potential as a rising star in Formula 1, providing hope for Mercedes fans looking for fresh talent in their lineup.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen maintained his reputation as a consistent front-runner by finishing the 2025 Australian GP final practice in third, just 0.081 seconds behind Piastri.
However, Red Bull faced setbacks elsewhere as Liam Lawson encountered mechanical issues with his power unit’s pneumatic system. Lawson completed only one installation lap before his car required extensive repairs, leaving him unable to set a competitive time during FP3.
Ferrari had a mixed session with Charles Leclerc finishing fourth and Lewis Hamilton struggling in eighth. Leclerc battled oversteer throughout the hour, which hampered his ability to extract maximum performance from his car.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s debut qualifying weekend for Ferrari was similarly challenging; he made errors during his final qualifying simulation and failed to match the pace of the frontrunners. With Ferrari expected to be a title contender for the 2025 F1 season, these struggles raised questions about their readiness to compete at the highest level.
Williams emerged as a surprise package with both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon delivering strong performances to finish sixth and seventh respectively. Their results highlighted significant progress for Williams, which has been aiming to reestablish itself as a competitive midfield team.
Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda also impressed by securing ninth place in FP3. His performance added intrigue to the midfield battle, showcasing Racing Bulls’ potential to challenge established teams like Alpine and Aston Martin.
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Meanwhile, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly finished outside the top 10, while Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin delivered modest results further down the order.
The 2025 Australian GP final practice was not without drama as Haas driver Ollie Bearman suffered another setback after spinning into the Turn 11 gravel on his first flying lap. The incident compounded Bearman’s struggles following an FP1 crash that had already limited his running on Friday.
Haas teammate Esteban Ocon also struggled to make an impact during FP3 finishing down in 18th.
Overall, FP3 at Albert Park provided an exhilarating preview of what promises to be an intense qualifying session and race weekend. McLaren’s dominance with Piastri leading the charge has set high expectations for their performance in qualifying.
Meanwhile, Red Bull and Mercedes remain formidable competitors capable of challenging McLaren’s supremacy. Ferrari faces an uphill battle to resolve their car’s handling issues and capitalize on their potential.
As teams head into qualifying, all eyes will be on Oscar Piastri as he seeks to convert his FP3 success into pole position at his home Grand Prix—a feat that would cement his status as one of Formula 1’s brightest talents.
