F1: Norris tops Alonso in final Australian GP practice

Have McLaren found a lasting solution to their brake issues that plagued them in Bahrain pre-season testing, with the fixes slowing them down for the first two races of the season?

Lando Norris turned the fastest lap of 1m19.117s in his #3 McLaren to top the final practice for the Australian GP in Melbourne.

Charles Leclerc in the #16 Ferrari was 2nd, 0.132s back

Norris has finished in P1, which not many people would have picked. Leclerc and Perez were next down the road, with Verstappen not able to get a clean lap in on the softs.

Saudi GP pole winner Sergio Perez was third for Red Bull, 0.148s back.

Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr rounded out the top-5.

It was a bad day for Aston Martin after first Sebastian Vettel, and later Lance Stroll wadded up their cars in the barriers.

Any of Stroll’s crew who had been earmarked to jump ship and help rebuild Vettel’s car won’t be able to now, and this weekend is just going from bad to worse for the team here.

It’s been the Ferrari – Red Bull show on Saturdays so far this season, but could Melbourne see more teams get in the mix? McLaren and Alpine might fancy their chances here today. But with dark clouds on the horizon, could the weather play a part?

Practice 3 Results