Max second in final free practice at Monza

Published on 07 September 2019 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen finished the third and final free practice for the Italian Grand Prix in second position. In eleven laps the Dutchman set a 1:20.236 as his fastest time, only coming half a tenth short of the quickest man, Sebastian Vettel. Valtteri Bottas (P3) and Charles Leclerc (P4) kept the gap also very small by both going around the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in 1:20.403.

When the session starts, it takes ten minutes before the pits is actually opened. A massive crash in the Formula 3 race earlier that morning took a lot of time to restore part of the circuit, which was finalised during the first part of the third free practice. When the lights go green it is straight away busy on track. Lance Stroll on behalf of Racing Point is the first who sets a lap time. Besides a couple of installation laps, Max Verstappen takes a long time to finally set a lap time. On the soft tires the Dutchman sets a 1:20.859, putting him in third position. The top six is formed by Charles Leclerc (1:20.452), Sebastian Vettel (+0.159), Max Verstappen (+0.407), Sergio Pérez (+0.906), Daniel Ricciardo (+0.957) and Lando Norris (+0.967).

Verstappen drops back to P5, but takes P3 again after setting a better time. By taking more than a tenth of his earlier time, the gap to Charles Leclerc, the man in first position, is only three tenths. After this Max returns to the pits. Behind the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver it is Lewis Hamilton (1:20.758), Valtteri Bottas (1:20.766) and Alexander Albon (1:20.827) who complete the top six.

There is a short break before the drivers come out again with more than ten minutes to go for some last runs. Max also comes out on the circuit in Monza on a new set of soft tires, setting a 1:20.326, putting him in P2. With less than half a tenth, the Dutchman keeps the gap the fastest man, Sebastian Vettel, minimal. The Ferrari driver ends the session as fastest. The rest of the top six is formed by Verstappen (+0.032), Bottas (+0.109), Leclerc (+0.109), Ricciardo (+0.270) and Hamilton (+0.301).

Qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix will start at 15:00.

Italian GP contest: win a signed orange Max driver cap and 1:43 scale model!

Results third free practice Italy: