Max fastest in Bahrain FP3

Published on 15 April 2017 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen was the fastest man on track during the third free practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Dutchman completed the Bahrain International Circuit in 1.32.194, outpacing Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari). Max’ Red Bull Racing team mate Daniel Ricciardo finished FP3 in seventh.

“I’m very happy. We found a better balance after yesterday. The car feels completely different. We’re confident and positive going into qualifying.”

The first fifteen minutes of FP3 are uneventful. Apart from the usual installation laps, only three drivers put a time on the board. The times that are set, are miles off the pace set on Friday. It appears the teams are biding their time for the conditions to reflect qualifying, with cooler temperatures.

With half an hour to go, the drivers start to pursue decent lap times. Max heads out on the soft Pirellis and claims top spot with a lap far from perfect.

Shortly after, Romain Grosjean causes the first and only red flag of the session. He goes wide in turn four and loses the rear. The front of the car hits the barrier meaning the Frenchman’s Haas returns to the pit without a front wing.

In the closing stages, both Red Bulls head out on the super soft tyres, with Daniel Ricciardo completing his first laps of the session. In the end, Max improves on his time set earlier, to be quickest in FP3.

Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit - Saturday 15 April

FREE PRACTICE 3 RESULTS

01 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:32.194          8
02 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:32.304 +0.110s  10
03  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:32.750 +0.556s  10
04 77 Valtteri Bottas     Mercedes                    1:32.754 +0.560s  13
05  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:32.785 +0.591s  9
06 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:32.801 +0.607s  12
07  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:32.809 +0.615s  8
08 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Renault                     1:32.933 +0.739s  9
09 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso                  1:33.604 +1.410s  18
10 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso                  1:33.744 +1.550s  11
11 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:33.916 +1.722s  14
12 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:33.922 +1.728s  10
13 94 Pascal Wehrlein     Sauber Ferrari              1:33.947 +1.753s  15
14 18 Lance Stroll        Williams Mercedes           1:33.965 +1.771s  15
15  2 Stoffel Vandoorne   McLaren Honda               1:34.027 +1.833s  15
16 31 Esteban Ocon        Force India Mercedes        1:34.064 +1.870s  17
17 20 Kevin Magnussen     Haas Ferrari                1:34.198 +2.004s  13
18  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:34.205 +2.011s  14
19  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:34.268 +2.074s  15
20 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:34.417 +2.223s  11 

Click here to enter our Bahrain GP competition with a chance to win a Red Bull Racing polo!