Max tops the board during FP3 in Abu Dhabi
Published on 30 November 2019 by Mike Motilall
Max Verstappen topped the board at the final third free practice of this year. On the Yas Marina Circuit, the Dutchman clocked a 1:36.566, he barely stayed ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes.
The third free practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the last session this weekend that is completely driven in daylight. After fifteen minutes, McLaren driving Lando Norris is the only driver with a timed lap.
Max Verstappen heads out on track only after well over 20 minutes and immediately tops the board on the soft tyre compound with a 1:37.202. He does another flying lap, but doesn’t better his time. Hamilton and Bottas have by then improved Max’ time. Verstappen returns to the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing pit box in order to prepare for his second run.
In the final fifteen minutes of the session, Max heads back out again on a set of the softs on his RB15. The Dutchman clocks a 1:36.729 which puts him third fastest, less than a tenth behind of the fastest man on track Hamilton. Once again Verstappen does another flying lap. The youngster puts in a 1:36.566 which earns him P1. In the dying seconds of the session, nobody is able to better Max’ time. Hamilton and Bottas both finish within a tenth of Max’ time in second and third. Max’ team mate, Alexander Albon, comes in fourth fastest ahead of Ferrari running Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc in a session without any incidents whatsoever.
At 14:00 hrs. local Dutch time, qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will get underway.
Abu Dhabi GP contest: Win a Red Bull Racing team backpack
Results third free practice Abudhabil:
pos | driver | team | time | gap | laps | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Max Verstappen | VER | Red Bull Racing Honda | 1:36.566 | 14 | |
2 | Lewis Hamilton | HAM | Mercedes | 1:36.640 | +0.074s | 17 |
3 | Valtteri Bottas | BOT | Mercedes | 1:36.655 | +0.089s | 16 |
4 | Alexander Albon | ALB | Red Bull Racing Honda | 1:36.927 | +0.361s | 17 |
5 | Sebastian Vettel | VET | Ferrari | 1:36.975 | +0.409s | 14 |
6 | Charles Leclerc | LEC | Ferrari | 1:37.010 | +0.444s | 15 |
7 | Sergio Perez | PER | Racing Point BWT Mercedes | 1:37.516 | +0.950s | 15 |
8 | Daniel Ricciardo | RIC | Renault | 1:37.615 | +1.049s | 13 |
9 | Carlos Sainz | SAI | McLaren Renault | 1:37.691 | +1.125s | 21 |
10 | Pierre Gasly | GAS | Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda | 1:37.736 | +1.170s | 16 |
11 | Romain Grosjean | GRO | Haas Ferrari | 1:37.768 | +1.202s | 11 |
12 | Daniil Kvyat | KVY | Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda | 1:37.963 | +1.397s | 17 |
13 | Lando Norris | NOR | McLaren Renault | 1:38.100 | +1.534s | 17 |
14 | Kevin Magnussen | MAG | Haas Ferrari | 1:38.198 | +1.632s | 11 |
15 | Lance Stroll | STR | Racing Point BWT Mercedes | 1:38.462 | +1.896s | 15 |
16 | Kimi Räikkönen | RAI | Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari | 1:38.514 | +1.948s | 20 |
17 | Nico Hulkenberg | HUL | Renault | 1:38.580 | +2.014s | 13 |
18 | Antonio Giovinazzi | GIO | Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari | 1:38.782 | +2.216s | 17 |
19 | George Russell | RUS | Williams Mercedes | 1:39.206 | +2.640s | 15 |
20 | Robert Kubica | KUB | Williams Mercedes | 1:39.859 | +3.293s | 16 |