Traffic became an issue for many on the high-speed circuit, with Norris notably held up by Max Verstappen and commenting on his radio, “why does no one use radios at all?” Meanwhile Alex Albon was also impeded by Lewis Hamilton, an incident the Ferrari driver has been called to the stewards over following the session.
Leclerc moved to the top approaching the 20-minute mark of the one-hour session on a 1m 29.002s before drivers switched to the softest tyre compound. George Russell was first of the leading runners to make the swap and lowered the benchmark to a 1m 28.973s after complaining of “some high speed bouncing”.
Times continued to tumble, with Carlos Sainz, Verstappen and Piastri all occupying the top spot approaching the halfway point in proceedings before Norris usurped them all with a 1m 28.340s.
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The Briton lowered the benchmark further on the red-marked tyre, moving his best down to a 1m 28.267s which would remain fastest until the chequered flag as drivers focused on long runs.
Piastri finished 0.163s in arrears with Verstappen a further tenth behind, as Leclerc headed Ferrari’s charge in fourth followed by an impressive showing from Williams driver Sainz.
Tsunoda claimed sixth but finished the session in the barrier at the final turn after the Red Bull driver clipped the wall on the inside, breaking his suspension which sent him into the barrier on the exit. The end of the red flag period left just over a minute remaining, with drivers scrambling out to take practice starts but not altering the order.
