Max ends FP3 in P8

Published on 26 September 2015 by Stefan Meens

Max started the second day of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend well with a seventh place in FP3, whilst Mercedes found its way back to the top of the timing sheets. Nico Rosberg finished the session first, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.

At the start of the hour long session, there are a lot of clouds, but it is still dry. Ricciardo is the first driver to post a lap time. Max opens his lap time account well by going second in the early stages. His team mate Carlos Sainz echoed Toro Rosso's form by joining Max in the top three.

After the opening stint, Max heads out on the medium tyres. Via the radio he informs the team the tyres heat up too quickly leading the car to struggle in the first sector. Nevertheless, Max is able to consolidate his spot in the top ten with the rest of drivers also switching the quicker medium Pirelli,

In the second half of FP3, it is finally business as usual for Mercedes, who return to the top of the leader boards. Williams also found their way back to the front with a spot in the top five for both Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas.

Max meanwhile opts for a long run on the mediums and is therefore unable to improve his lap time. Especially near the end of the stint, the Dutchman is fighting the car with the rear tyres dropping off quickly.

In the end, Max finishes the session in seventh, ahead of Sainz, who rounds out the top ten. At the very front, Nico Rosberg is fastest with a 1:33.995, followed by Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo and the two Williams.

Suzuka - Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday 26 September

 RESULTS FREE PRACTICE 3
 P  No Driver             Team          Time       Gap       Laps
 1   6 Nico Rosberg       Mercedes      1:33.995             19
 2  44 Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes      1:34.292   +0.297s   20
 3   3 Daniel Ricciardo   Red Bull      1:34.497   +0.502s   22
 4  77 Valtteri Bottas    Williams      1:34.797   +0.802s   27
 5  19 Felipe Massa       Williams      1:34.934   +0.939s   25
 6   7 Kimi Räikkönen     Ferrari       1:35.082   +1.087s   16
 7  33 Max Verstappen     Toro Rosso    1:35.160   +1.165s   26
 8   5 Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari       1:35.222   +1.227s   16
 9   8 Romain Grosjean    Lotus         1:35.602   +1.607s   20
10  55 Carlos Sainz       Toro Rosso    1:35.963   +1.968s   29
11  27 Nico Hulkenberg    Force India   1:36.110   +2.115s   19
12  22 Jenson Button      McLaren       1:36.174   +2.179s   15
13   9 Marcus Ericsson    Sauber        1:36.199   +2.204s   19
14  26 Daniil Kvyat       Red Bull      1:36.294   +2.299s   23
15  13 Pastor Maldonado   Lotus         1:36.307   +2.312s   21
16  14 Fernando Alonso    McLaren       1:36.360   +2.365s   18
17  11 Sergio Perez       Force India   1:36.430   +2.435s   21
18  12 Felipe Nasr        Sauber        1:36.919   +2.924s   24
19  28 Will Stevens       Marussia      1:39.653   +5.658s   24
20  53 Alexander Rossi    Marussia      1:39.819   +5.824s   22 

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You can find the schedule for the Japanese Grand Prix here.

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