5th place for Max after third and final practice in Sochi

Published on 29 September 2018 by Raymond Snip

Max Verstappen has completed the third and final free practice for the Grand Prix of Russia finishing in fifth place. The Dutchman completed 11 laps on the hypersoft tyres realizing a 1: 33.937 as his fastest time. Mercedes was the quickest. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas out-paced the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

At the beginning of free practice three, about half of the drivers, including Max Verstappen, immediately go out on track for an installation lap. Fernando Alonso keeps going and is the first to set a time. It remains very quiet during the first quarter of an hour at the Sochi Autodrom. Besides Alonso, only the Ferrari and Williams drivers record a lap time.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take before the Sochi track gets busier. The lap times go down and after more than twenty minutes Valtteri Bottas (1:33,809), Sebastian Vettel (1:33,859), Lewis Hamilton (1:33,919) and Kimi Raikkonen (1:34,343) complete the top four. All times, with the exception of the Haas drivers, have been set on the hypersoft tyres.

Shortly before the session halfway mark, Max Verstappen again hits the asphalt. The Dutchman goes wide several times during his first flying lap and goes back into the pits after aborting the attempt. During his next lap Verstappen creates a 1:35.271, P8. Although not entirely satisfied, the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver returns to the garage.

With twenty minutes to go, it is Lewis Hamilton who leads the times table. Bottas, Vettel, Raikkonen, Pérez and Ricciardo complete the top six. Verstappen at the moment sits down in P9.

At the end of free practice three, many drivers go outside again for a quick lap. The lap times are being improved and Mercedes again shows to be very quick. Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas hold a few tenths on the Ferraris. Max Verstappen also gets back on track and improves in his last run to a 1:33.937, finishing the session in fifth place.

Qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix will start at 14:00 (Dutch time).

Russian GP contest: win a Red Bull Racing 2018 softshell!

Results third free practice Russia: