Verstappen P15 in FP3: "Really useful long run"
Published on 02 April 2016 by Stefan Meens
In the final free practice session ahead of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Max Verstappen finished in P15. The two Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers, both hindered by small technical issues, were among the few drivers that opted out of using the super soft tyres for their quickest laps. At the front, the Ferrari duo of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen led the way, four tenths ahead of both Mercedes.
“It might not look fast, but that's because we did a long run on a high fuel load”, explains Max to Verstappen.nl “We had a different programme than most teams. I also had a problem which meant I had to come into the pits. The team fixed it, although I'm not sure what the issue was. It meant I was able to finish my long run, which was really useful.”
In the second half of the session the Dutchman set quicker times. “At the end we went out on the softs, not the super softs like the rest of the teams. That's why that time wasn't really representative. But it's going to be very close in qualifying. Anything can happen between P5 and P14.”
At the start of the session, Max stays in the pits for the first quarter before heading out for an installation lap. Both Toro Rossos then opt for long runs with a high fuel load.
Mid stint, Max tells the team over the radio: “There's something wrong with the engine.” Nevertheless the team keep the Dutchman out. “The battery is draining like hell”, is Max' next comment, after which he is called in the pits. His team mate Carlos Sainz also has to report back to the team with a puncture.
After Toro Rosso fixed the issue with Max' STR11, the youngster is able to resume his long run which consists of fifteen laps in the 1:39s. His quickest lap thus far is a 1:38.8. Near the end, Max improves his quickest time by over five seconds after bolting on the soft Pirellis. It results in a 1:33.778. Sainz, also on softs, manages a 1:34.0
At the front, the Ferraris and Mercedes battle for the top spot with the Italian outfit setting the pace. Valtteri Bottas in the Williams and Romain Grosjean complete the top six.
Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit - Saturday 2 April
RESULTS FP3 P No Driver Team Time Gap Laps 1 5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:31.683 22 2 7 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:31.723 +0.040s 13 3 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:32.104 +0.421s 18 4 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:32.160 +0.477s 14 5 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:32.675 +0.992s 18 6 8 Romain Grosjean Haas 1:33.082 +1.399s 14 7 26 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull 1:33.113 +1.430s 10 8 21 Esteban Gutierrez Haas 1:33.337 +1.654s 14 9 19 Felipe Massa Williams 1:33.363 +1.680s 18 10 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:33.519 +1.836s 20 11 9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1:33.569 +1.886s 16 12 20 Kevin Magnussen Renault 1:33.617 +1.934s 9 13 22 Jenson Button McLaren 1:33.704 +2.021s 12 14 47 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 1:33.744 +2.061s 11 15 33 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1:33.778 +2.095s 20 16 55 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso 1:34.003 +2.320s 20 17 12 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1:34.013 +2.330s 15 18 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1:34.128 +2.445s 16 19 11 Sergio Perez Force India 1:34.281 +2.598s 15 20 30 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1:34.424 +2.741s 9 21 88 Rio Haryanto Manor 1:35.546 +3.863s 15 22 94 Pascal Wehrlein Manor 1:35.724 +4.041s 16
