Piastri tops FP3 in Imola as Alonso and Perez end day in the wall
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Oscar Piastri was the quickest man in FP3, with a lap time of 1:15.529. Lando Norris followed, in the order of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, but the final laps in the session ahead of qualifying were compromised because of the red flag caused by Sergio Perez.
Piastri was finally able to put a lap together, after he made some mistakes earlier, and finished the session in P1. Norris was able put a final lap together in the chaotic final moments of the session, and finished second. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc fought each other as the session was quickly restarted for the final minutes after Perez's crash, they finished in P3 and P4 respectly ahead of George Russell and Max Verstappen. The Dutchman's quickest lap was on the mediums.
Perez and Alonso cause red flag
Around the halfway point of the session, Fernarndo Alonso has lost his Aston Martin in Rivazza 2, and did a spin through a gravel trap into the barrier. The Spaniard's car did sustain some damage, especially its left-rear side, creating a stessful afternoon for his mechanics.
The Rivazza 2 proved to be an especially challenging corner for the drivers, as among others Logan Sargeant and Piastri also went wide there, as in between Turn 17 and 18, the wind made the cars lose balance.
With six minutes to go, Checo Perez's session also ended in the wall, after he lost control as he went over the kerb in the Turn 14-15 chicane. The Mexican headed straight into the wall, and he car had to be towed away.