Max P3 in third free practice of Abu Dhabi

Published on 06 December 2025 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen wrapped up the third free practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in P3. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver set a best lap of 1:23.458, finishing only 0.124 seconds shy of session leader George Russell (Mercedes). Championship leader Lando Norris secured second place for McLaren, missing Russell’s time by just four-thousandths of a second.

The third and final free practice of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the final session of the season that takes place in broad daylight. As such, FP3 circumstances won’t reflect qualifying circumstances and the drivers wait patiently to take to the track. In the opening phases, both Aston Martins and Alpines leave the pits to set their laptimes. Norris appears twelve minutes after the start of the session, and puts down an impressive 1:24.728 lap time. With 37 minutes left on the clock, Max heads out. On a set of soft tyres, the Dutchman puts down the session’s fastest time (1:24.245).

Midway through the session, a red flag was brought out after Lewis Hamilton crashed. The Ferrari-driver spun at turn nine and slid into the TecPro barrier. Hamilton was able to climb out of the car without injury, though the Ferrari’s right front sustained damage.

With a quarter of an hour to go, the session is resumed. The pit lane is crowded as many drivers jockey to get onto the track. Max also heads out on a new set of soft tyres. He improves his time to a 1:24.116, but quickly has to relinquish his hold on first place to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the McLarens, who are about half a second faster than the Dutchman. Max returns to the pits, and heads out on a new set of soft tyres. He improves his time to a 1:23.514, placing him third behind George Russell and Lando Norris. In the pit lane, Kimi Antonelli is released straight into the path of Yuki Tsunoda, causing the two to make contact and sustain damage.

At the fall of the flag marking the end of the session, Max improves his time (1:23.458) but stays in P3. He is just 0.124 seconds slower than George Russel, while Lando Norris has a gap of four-thousandths of a second to P1. Fernando Alonso comes fourth, and the third championship contender, Oscar Piastri, finished P5.

Contest GP Abu Dhabi: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results third free practice Abu-dhabi: