Charles Leclerc was the first to set a significant time on medium tires in 1’33″121. Carlos Sainz placed himself behind his teammate at 7 tenths, and both drivers were equipped with medium tyres.
Max Verstappen set the second fastest time after setting the fastest time in the first sector. The Ferrari seemed much more comfortable in the winding second sector, while the Red Bull was also on medium tyres.
Valtteri Bottas, absent from the track this morning due to a mechanical problem, then set the fourth fastest time on medium tyres. Shortly before mid-season, the riders started putting on soft tyres.
Thus, Fernando Alonso took the best time in 1’32″877 ahead of Sainz, who improved just after. Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher then brought the two Haas VF-22s back into the top 5, proving both that the hierarchy was tight, but also that the lap times were changing.
Leclerc then grabbed the best time in 1’32″263. Bottas improved again to third place, ahead of Sergio Pérez who improved. After using the old sidepods of the RB18 this morning, the Mexican embarked on the second specification, like Verstappen.
It was the latter who then took the best time, just after the halfway point, in 1’31 “936. Leclerc improved, just above the 1’32” mark, to 0 “087 from Verstappen Behind, George Russell finally brought Mercedes F1 back to the top of the standings with a time half a second off the benchmark.
For his part, Lewis Hamilton took ninth place, but the Briton did not have the possibility of using the DRS. Mercedes has confirmed that the drag reduction system is having a problem on the single-seater at number 44.
Sainz took third, before the teams started doing long stint simulations. Leclerc could have improved later in the session, but the Monegasque was blocked by Yuki Tsunoda, who was on a long stint.
Verstappen therefore concluded this session in the lead ahead of the Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz. Russell is fourth ahead of Alonso, Bottas and Pérez. Schumacher confirms the best at Haas for this year with an eighth place, ahead of Hamilton and the other Haas of Magnussen.
The American team has never signed such results in free practice last year, and it seems better placed than it has been in recent years. Norris and 11th ahead of Ocon and the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly – best time this morning – and Yuki Tsunoda.
Guanyu Zhou follows in front of the Aston Martin F1s of Lance Stroll and Nico Hülkenberg, the latter being in a time close to his team-mate. Daniel Ricciardo is finally ahead of the Williams of Nicholas Latifi and Alex Albon.
| Pos. | Pilot | Car | Time | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull RBPT RB18 | 1:31.936 | 20 |
| 02 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari F1-75 | 1:32.023 | 20 |
| 03 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari F1-75 | 1:32.520 | 22 |
| 04 | George Russell | Mercedes W13 | 1:32.529 | 25 |
| 05 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine Renault A522 | 1:32.877 | 24 |
| 06 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo Ferrari C42 | 1:32.951 | 30 |
| 07 | sergio perez | Red Bull RBPT RB18 | 1:32.958 | 20 |
| 08 | Mick Schumacher | Haas Ferrari VF-22 | 1:33.085 | 24 |
| 09 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes W13 | 1:33.144 | 23 |
| 10 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari VF-22 | 1:33.183 | 23 |
| 11 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL36 | 1:33.280 | 27 |
| 12 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault A522 | 1:33.360 | 25 |
| 13 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri RBPT AT03 | 1:33.621 | 24 |
| 14 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri RBPT AT03 | 1:33.789 | 26 |
| 15 | Guanyu Zhou | Alfa Romeo Ferrari C42 | 1:33.953 | 27 |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR22 | 1:33.958 | 25 |
| 17 | Nico Hulkenberg | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR22 | 1:34.061 | 28 |
| 18 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren Mercedes MCL36 | 1:34.166 | 12 |
| 19 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams Mercedes FW44 | 1:34.486 | 28 |
| 20 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW44 | 1:34.735 | 22 |