Formula 1 2022 results – Mexican Grand Prix: FP3

Jamie Woodhouse
Fans in the Foro Sol at the 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix.

Fans in the Foro Sol at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Mercedes head into qualifying with all the momentum after bossing FP3 in Mexico, George Russell ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

After topping FP2, a session largely dedicated to testing the 2023 Pirelli prototype tyres, Russell showed his ability to remain on top with the current compounds.

As Lewis Hamilton slotted into P2, Mercedes enjoyed an advantage of almost half a second over Max Verstappen, with Ferrari another couple of tenths further back.

Despite a 40% chance of rain and FP2 having been about testing the 2023 Pirelli prototype tyres, the track was surprisingly quiet as the lights went green for the final hour of practice.

Zhou Guanyu temporarily remained in the garage by force though due to an engine issue, his disrupted race weekend continuing.

While Verstappen watched on, his team-mate and home hero Sergio Perez took to the track along with the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, Russell putting his Mercedes on top with a 1:19.405 after a round of push laps on the soft tyres.

When Verstappen did take to the track with just over 20 minutes gone, he shot to the top of the timings on his first attempt, a tenth clear of Russell, even with a “so terrible” first sector. He went on to shave another 0.172s off that effort with a 1:19.118.

Mercedes put themselves right back in the fight though, Russell going seven tenths clear of Verstappen after bolting on a fresh set of soft tyres, Hamilton settling into P2 0.144s behind.

Verstappen was able to only just about squeeze within half a second of Russell’s time.

You can read our full FP3 report here.

FP3 times

1 George RUSSELL Mercedes1:18.399
2 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes+0.144
3 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull Racing+0.477
4 Charles LECLERC Ferrari+0.724
5 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull Racing+0.842
6 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari+0.902
7 Lando NORRIS McLaren+0.918
8 Valtteri BOTTAS Alfa Romeo+0.991
9 Yuki TSUNODA AlphaTauri+1.483
10 Alexander ALBON Williams+1.518
11 Esteban OCON Alpine+1.561
12 Guanyu ZHOU Alfa Romeo+1.620
13 Fernando ALONSO Alpine+1.638
14 Daniel RICCIARDO McLaren+1.740
15 Pierre GASLY AlphaTauri+1.931
16 Lance STROLL Aston Martin+2.078
17 Mick SCHUMACHER Haas F1 Team+2.199
18 Nicholas LATIFI Williams+2.449
19 Sebastian VETTEL Aston Martin+2.587
20 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas F1 Team+2.872

 

George Russell Mercedes

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