Verstappen quickest after final free practice in Spielberg

Published on 03 July 2021 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen topped the board after the final free practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. The Dutchman did fifteen laps on the 4,318 meter long Red Bull Ring, his fastest time being a 1:04.591 and staying well ahead of Mercedes. Valtteri Bottas came in second, five tenths down while Lewis Hamilton completed the top three, seven tenths down.

It is twenty-three degrees when the third and final free practice gets underway in Spielberg. Nikita Mazepin is the first one to head out on track with George Russell, followed by both McLarens. During the relatively calm opening phase, we see all the drivers do their laps on Pirelli-test tyres, which are supposed to be more robust to prevent tyre blow outs like those that happened at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen takes his time heading out and leaves the pits half an hour into the session. At that moment he was the only driver not to have set a lap time. Lando Norris is at the top of the time sheet with a 1:05.700. Yuki Tsunoda, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, Pierre Gasly and Nicholas Latifi are the top six that trail him within half a second.

After his first lap, Verstappen does a 1:04.941 on the softs, earning him top spot with a massive difference. After two cooldown laps, the Red Bull Racing-driver straps in for another go. however, he fails to better his time and returns to the pits. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas slot in not much later in P2 and P3, albeit with half a second deficit to the RB16B.

With still fifteen minutes to go, the top six is formed by Max Verstappen (1:04.941), Lewis Hamilton (+0.336), Carlos Sainz (+0.406), Charles Leclerc (+0.543), Valtteri Bottas (+0.644) and George Russell (+0.753). Five minutes later, Verstappen reports on deck and has the red walled softs strapped on to his car. The Dutchman manages to shave off well over three tenths off of his time to a 1:04.591. Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Antonio Giovinazzi and Carlos Sainz complete the top six at the end of the session.

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Results third free practice Austria: