Max in P4 in third free practice at Abu Dhabi

Published on 07 December 2024 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen finished the third free practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in fourth place. On the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit, Oscar Piastri set the fastest time for McLaren. His teammate Lando Norris secured P2, ahead of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes in P3. Max’s teammate at Oracle Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, finished the session in P10.

The session started in warm conditions, with temperatures at a pleasant 28°C at the Yas Marina Circuit. The Aston Martins were the first cars to come out on track, while the other teams refrained from venturing out initially, primarily because the conditions during the session did not match those expected during qualifying and the race.

After the Aston Martins, the Alpine cars entered the track, this time on a set of soft tyres. Alpine drivers were the first to set times, with Jack Doohan going faster than Pierre Gasly. Fifteen minutes in, Lance Stroll claimed the top spot from Doohan.

As the first quarter of the session passed, the track began to see more action, though both Williams and both Red Bull cars remained in the pits. After just over 20 minutes, the Red Bulls finally appeared on the track. Max opted for medium tyres and immediately delivered two purple sectors but lost significant time in the final part of his lap. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez, running on soft tyres, posted a time placing his RB20 one spot below Max in P6. Notably, Max's time was the fastest recorded on medium tyres up to that point.

Midway through the session, plumes of smoke were seen trailing behind Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. It raised questions about whether the issue was engine-related or simply the floor hitting the ground. Sainz had just placed his Ferrari in P10 on medium tyres, a tenth of a second behind Max, who was also on mediums. Shortly after, Max moved his Red Bull up to P2, still on mediums, making him the only driver in the top nine using that tyre compound.

In the final part of the session, several drivers switched to new soft tyres. Among them was Alex Albon, who briefly took P1 with his Williams, stating over the team radio, “The balance changed quite a bit during that lap.”

Albon was soon dethroned by George Russell, and then Oscar Piastri, who claimed P1. Max also switched to a set of new soft tyres but could not join the battle for the top spot. He ultimately finished P3 behind the two McLarens. “My brakes are not working, my front axle is not biting. It is like they are glazing,” Max reported to his engineer over the team radio.

Perez had an underwhelming session, ending in P14. No further changes occurred at the top in the closing stages, marking the end of the final free practice session of the season.

Contest Abu Dhabi GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results third free practice Abu-dhabi: