No time for Max due to rained out third free practice in Germany

Published on 21 July 2018 by Mike Motilall

The third and final free practice for the German Gran Prix was unfortunately rained out. Due to heavy downpour Max Verstappen only did one installation lap and was therefore not able to get a time on the clock. Charles Leclerc, for the first time in his Formula 1-career, was the quickest during this session. Sauber team mate Marcus Ericsson trails in second while Sergey Sirotkin follows in third.

Before the start of the session, the Heavens open up causing the drivers to start the third free practice on a wet track. This doesn’t stop most of the drivers though to still head out on track. Max Verstappen neither, he ventures out on a set of the full wets for one installation lap. Exiting the pits, the Dutchman is held up by Fernando Alonso but the incident doesn’t have any further implications.

Nico Hulkenberg is the first one to get a timed lap with a 1:36.873. Renault team mate Carlos Sainz spins at Turn 10 and is complaining about aqua planing on the radio. Indicating that the rain is intensifying. All the drivers head back to the pits, waiting for better track conditions.

The rain however persists, and for half an hour there is no-one on track. With ten minutes remaining on the clock, a few drivers take a chance to head back out. That the track conditions are still tricky is proven by Pierre Gasly and Sebastian Vettel, who both spin. In the dying seconds of the session, Leclerc clocks a 1:34.577. This proves to be the fastest lap time in this session.

During qualifying, which is on the schedule at 15:00 hrs, there is once again a possibility for some showers. Something Max Verstappen is hoping for: “If it rains, we have a good chance to get pole position. It will be very difficult to get pole otherwise,” says the Dutchman.

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Results third free practice Germany: