Antonelli topped third Practice in Monaco

First on the track got Ferraris, Cadillacs and Aston Martins which were all on the soft tires. Valtteri Bottas, later joined by his teammate Sergio Perez, complained on the radio that his breaks are catching on fire again. Yesterday’s second Free Practice ended earlier for Perez as his breaks actually caught on fire causing a Red Flag.

After 14 minutes Ferraris topped the standings again with Lewis Hamilton’s fastest lap of 1:14:490 seconds. Later it was beaten by Norris and Russell who set new fastest time 1:13:902 seconds.

Lewis Hamilton complained on the radio that his seat is moving around in the cockpit, a problem that he reported in FP2, too. Following this radio report he went into the boxes.

In the middle of the session there was a Yellow Flag as Franco Colapinto spun in Turn 8. There wasn’t any damage so he continued his lap. By this time Kimi Antonelli was in the lead with time of 1:13:137 seconds followed by Leclerc, Russell, Piastri and Verstappen.

With 25 minutes remaining Alexander Albon went off the track in Turn 1 without any damages. Half of the grid went into the boxes meanwhile both Mercedes were trying another fast laps. Antonelli improved and set new fastest time of 1:12:720 seconds.

After 10 minutes there was a Yellow Flag later followed by Red Flag caused by Oliver Bearman who crashed in Turn 3 near the Monegasque Casino. The session was stopped, all cars went into the pits, and the Pit Exit was closed.

After 11 minutes of Red Flag the cars were allowed to get back on the track for last four minutes and all cars except for Antonelli did so. With one and a half minute remaining Charles Leclerc complained on the radio about his breaks, calling it horrendous.

As the session came to an end no one was able to beat Antonelli’s time leaving him on top ahead of Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell and Verstappen.

FP3 results: 

1st – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

2nd – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.327

3rd – Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.331

4th – George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.763

5th – Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – +0.942

6th – Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.978

7th – Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – +1.100

8th – Isack Hadjar (Red Bull Racing) – +1.157

9th – Lando Norris (McLaren) – +1.286

10th – Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – +1.330

11th – Esteban Ocon (Haas F1 Team) – +1.558

12th – Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +1.616

13th – Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.760

14th – Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team) – +1.767

15th – Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +1.867

16th – Alexander Albon (Williams) – +2.081

17th – Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – +2.198

18th – Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – +2.225

19th – Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – +2.459

20th – Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – +2.731

21st – Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +2.847

22nd – Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +3.201