Verstappen on top after final free practice Bahrain

Published on 19 March 2022 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen finished the third free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix as fastest. The Dutchman drove fourteen laps on the 5.412-kilometre-long Bahrain International Circuit and set a 1:32.544 as fastest time on soft tyres. Charlec Leclerc (+0.096) and Sergio Pérez (+0.247) completed the top three.

It is 3PM local time when the lights at the end of the pitlane go green. Kevin Magnussen, together with the two Alfa Romeo drivers, are the first to come out on track. After fifteen minutes gets Max Verstappen in his car. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver leaves the pitlane on soft tyres a couple of minutes later, setting straight away the fastest time thus far (1:33.035).

Halfway the session the top six is formed by Verstappen, Charles Leclerc (+0.762), Carlos Sainz (+1.113), Sergio Pérez (+1.125), Lewis Hamilton (+1.221) and Kevin Magnussen (+1.228). Yuki Tsunoda has not driven any laps at that time. The Japanese had a hydraulic issue when exiting his pit box and was pushed back in straight away.

With still more than twenty minutes to go sets Lewis Hamilton the second fastest time (1:33.121) on softs. Not much later this position is taken over by Carlos Sainz, who sets a 1:33.053, only eighteen thousandths of a second slower than Verstappen.

From now on the pace goes up. When George Russell takes the lead, Max leaves the pitlane on a fresh set of soft tyres. His first attempt is not completely faultless, but when the Red Bull Racing driver goes again, he sets a 1:32.544 as the fastest time.

Verstappen’s time will not be improved; thus, the world champion finishes the session as fastest. Teammate Sergio Pérez puts his RB18 in third position, one and a half tenth behind Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. George Russell, Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton complete the top six. 

Contest GP Bahrain: win a Max Verstappen F1 Yearbook 2021!

Results third free practice Bahrain: