Max Verstappen fastest in final free practice Suzuka

Published on 08 October 2022 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen finished the third free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix in first position. The Dutchman did 21 laps on the 5.807-kilometre-long Suzuka International Racing Course and set his fastest time (1:30.671) in the final phase of the session. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc completed the top three.

After a rained-out Friday it is very busy when the final free practice session starts. The teams and drivers only have one hour left to collect data on a dry circuit. Max Verstappen almost immediately comes out on track and opens the session with a 1:32.050 on soft tyres, before returning to the team.

After more than fifteen minutes, Verstappen leaves the pitlane again for a longer run on the same compound. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver starts with a high 1:36, which increases in seven timed laps to a time halfway the 1:38. Max comes back in with less than half an hour to go. He forms the top six, together with George Russell, Sergio Pérez, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.

Several drivers now change to the soft tyres, after which the lap times come down. Carlos Sains (1:32.144) takes over the lead from Verstappen, while teammate Charles Leclerc joins in P2. Max changes to the medium tyres and only once sets a time (1:31.316) before returning to the pitlane.

The final phase of the session is marked by qualifying runs. Verstappen improves on the softs to a 1:30.671 and finishes the session in first place. Carlos Sainz comes just under three tenths short of Max and finishes in P2. Charles Leclerc finishes third, with behind him Fernando Alonso, Sergio Pérez and George Russell.

Contest GP Japan: win a by Max Verstappen signed blue RBR Driver Cap 2022!

Results third free practice Japan: