Max seventh in Baku FP3: "Still some work to do"

Published on 18 June 2016 by Stefan Meens

In the final practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Max Verstappen set the seventh fastest time after lapping the Baku City Circuit fourteen times. Lewis Hamilton made it a hattrick by claiming top spot in FP3 after also dominating both Friday practice sessions. The world champion topped the timing tables on Saturday morning ahead of team mate Nico Rosberg and Nico Hulkenberg's Force India. Daniel Ricciardo, in the other Red Bull Racing RB12, finished fourth.

“We tried a different set-up and we're moving into the right direction”, explains Max to Verstappen.nl after FP3. “We've swapped rear wings which led to a little improvement, but we still have work to do ahead of qualifying. It's going to be close.”

The session is off to a clumsy start. A roster in the pit lane is dislodged when Valtteri Bottas runs over it on his way out on track. The solid metal object strikes a whole in the Williams' side pod. Consequently, Bottas' FP3 ends after just one lap.

Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing have made some changes to Max' car after the FIA brought the minimal tyre pressure down to 21 PSI from 22. If this is the reason why Max and Ricciardo are lapping faster is not clear, but it appears that the Austrian outfit has found some lap time overnight.

With twenty minutes to go, the teams switch their focus to qualifying. The Red Bull Racing drivers are the first to go out on a qualifying simulation on the super-soft Pirellis. Ricciardo improves from P5 to P3, with Max progressing to fifth from tenth. The Dutchman has to settle for seventh in the end, his Australian team mate finishes fourth.

At the front, Mercedes assert their dominance once more by locking out the first two positions. Force India's Nico Hulkenburg impresses with third. But despite quick lap times from both drivers, Force India end the session on a low. Sergio Perez smashes his car into the barrier at turn 15, prompting a red flag in the final minute of FP3. The mechanics will have their work cut out to get the car repaired for qualifying at 2pm BST.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku City Circuit - Saturday 18 June

RESULTS FREE PRACTICE 3
01 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:44.352              17
02  6 Nico Rosberg        Mercedes                    1:44.610   +0.258s    22
03 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Force India Mercedes        1:45.540   +1.188s    18
04  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:45.620   +1.268s    13
05  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:45.630   +1.278s    20
06 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:45.735   +1.383s    17
07 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:45.901   +1.549s    14
08 22 Jenson Button       McLaren Honda               1:45.954   +1.602s    17
09 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:45.981   +1.629s    19
10  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:46.024   +1.672s    16
11 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:46.131   +1.779s    16
12 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:46.190   +1.838s    17
13  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:46.361   +2.009s    21
14 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:46.510   +2.158s    20
15 21 Esteban Gutierrez   Haas Ferrari                1:46.670   +2.318s    21
16 20 Kevin Magnussen     Renault                     1:47.024   +2.672s    16
17 94 Pascal Wehrlein     MRT Mercedes                1:47.100   +2.748s    19
18 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:47.158   +2.806s    18
19  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:47.328   +2.976s    14
20 12 Felipe Nasr         Sauber Ferrari              1:47.379   +3.027s    18
21 88 Rio Haryanto        MRT Mercedes                1:47.556   +3.204s    18
22 77 Valtteri Bottas     Williams Mercedes                                  1 

Join our competition and win a Max Verstappen Dutch cap and flag!