The third and final practice session (FP3) for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya wrapped up on Saturday with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen posting the fastest lap of the weekend. According to Motorsport Week, Verstappen clocked a 1:13.254 on his medium‑compound tyres, edging out Mercedes’ George Russell who was second fastest at 1:13.489.
Ferrari endured a disappointing day, as both of its drivers found themselves outside the top ten. Charles Leclerc managed a best time of 1:14.112, placing him ninth, while teammate Carlos Sainz recorded a 1:14.276 for twelfth on the board, per total‑motorsport.com. The Italian squad’s pace was further hampered by a brief cooling‑down period after a minor coolant leak on Sainz’s car, which forced the team to run a short stint on the spare chassis.
McLaren showed a resurgence, with Lando Norris posting the third‑quickest lap at 1:13.657, signalling that the team may be able to challenge the front‑runners in qualifying. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso occupied the fourth and fifth slots respectively, both within a tenth of a second of Verstappen’s benchmark.
For Indian fans, the Spanish Grand Prix will be streamed live on FanCode with commentary in English and Hindi. The race is scheduled for Sunday, 9 October at 14:00 IST, following a 12:00 IST qualifying session on Saturday. Fans can also catch the practice sessions on the same platform; FP3 started at 10:30 IST, lasting 60 minutes. The timing makes it convenient for viewers across the country, and the streaming service offers a replay option for those who miss the live feed.
Looking ahead, the Barcelona results hint at a potentially tight battle for pole position, especially with Red Bull showing strong one‑lap pace while Ferrari appears to be working through early‑season teething issues. The next round in Monaco will be crucial for teams to fine‑tune their low‑downforce packages before the summer sprint events.
Source: Motorsport Week
