Max by far the quickest after FP3 on Paul Ricard

Published on 19 June 2021 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen topped the board after the third free practice for the French Grand Prix. On the circuit Paul Ricard, Max lapped the track eleven times in the final free practice and with a 1:31.300 the Red Bull Racing-driver was well over seven tenths of a second faster than Valtteri Bottas in second place. Carlos Sainz came in third in his Ferrari in a session without any remarkable incidents.

The third free practice gets underway on the 5.842 km long Paul Ricard with a thick overcast and an ambient temperature of 26 degrees C. The drivers are patiently waiting to head out on track. Only after ten minutes both Haas-drivers, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin make to the track. The latter spins in his flying lap at Turn two. Because of the rough asphalt on the run off areas, the Haas’ tyres are completely destroyed and the Russian rookie is forced to limp back to the pits.

Only when the session is well over twenty minutes, we see Max, as the last of all the drivers, head out on the track. With a set of the softs on his RB16B, Verstappen clocks a 1:32.337 on his first flying lap, which immediately earns him the top spot. Only a mere nine thousandths of a second faster than Valtteri Bottas in second place. Max remains lapping the track and moments later he even betters his time. However he exceeds track limits on his flying lap at Turn six and his lap time is deleted. Bottas does a better job than Max which puts the Dutchman now second. After an eight-lap run, Verstappen heads back in to the Red Bull Racing-garage.  

With still 15 minutes on the clock, Verstappen heads back out again with a set of softs strapped on to his car once more. Max improves his time to a 1:31.300 which puts him by far the quickest on track. The Dutchman is no less than seven tenths of a second quicker than Bottas who is second fastest. Ultimately nobody is able to come close to the time Verstappen set, this puts him at the top of the board after the session. Trailing quite considerably is Bottas in second, Carlos Sainz is third fastest. Sergio Perez (P4) and Lewis Hamilton (P5) are the only two drivers that manage to stay within a second of Verstappen’s time.

At 15.00 hrs. local Dutch time qualifying for the French Grand Prix will get underway.

Contest GP France: win a Red Bull Racing backpack

Results third free practice France: