Norris’ Saturday Morning Masterclass:Fastest Time

By the time of the third practice session, the rain had nearly subsided, leaving only a small amount of water on the track, particularly near the pit area, where mechanics were actively working to dry the asphalt. The drivers initially started on intermediate tires but soon switched to slicks as the grip improved.Despite the rain, the track remained slippery, but with each lap, the grip continued to improve. By the middle of the session, drivers began complaining about traffic as more cars joined the track.

At the 50-minute mark,a potential collision was narrowly avoided on track: Fernando Alonso attempted to overtake George Russell before entering the pits, but Russell, preparing to enter the pit lane, did not anticipate the move and slightly forced Alonso towards the wall. Both drivers managed to avoid a crash, but the incident caught the attention of the stewards. Following the session, Mercedes was fined €7,500 for failing to warn their driver about the fast car behind, while Russell received only a warning.

As a result, on the short and challenging Zandvoort circuit, the McLaren drivers achieved excellent results. Lando Norris was the fastest in the session, beating the rest of the field by almost a second. The results for the other drivers were tightly grouped, promising an exciting qualifying session where every driver will be aiming for the best possible time.