Max aims for top ten in qualifying after solid FP3

Published on 25 July 2015 by Stefan Meens

Ahead of qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen finished the final practice session in seventh. The Scuderia Toro Rosso driver lapped the Hungaroring 22 times without any issues. “Top ten in qualifying is definitely possible”, explains an ambitious Max aiming for points in Sunday's Grand Prix.

From the moment Max leaves the pits for the first time in Saturday morning's session, the Dutchman clocks quick times on a set of medium Pirellis. He finds a good rhythm in the opening stages of FP3 and after nine laps he sits in third with a 1:26.3.

His second run, with four new mediums bolted on, does not go as smoothly. Max shoots wide at the first corner. “I went wide in turn one. It's really a problem with these tyres”, explains Max to the team, adding: “Because I have to recharge so aggressively, I can't warm up the brakes.” Nevertheless he improves his lap time before heading back to the pits.

With ten minutes to go, the focus drifts to qualifying prep. All the drivers hit the track on the softer compound. Max clocks his fastest lap of the day (1:24.678), moving him up into fifth. “Are your tyres good enough for another flying lap?”, asks Max' engineer Xevi Pujolar. “No, I keep losing the rear of the car”, answers Max, signalling the end of his session.

Meanwhile, the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg top the leader boards. The latter has an issue at the end of the session when the team asks him to switch the car of at the end of the pit lane whilst practising a start. Nevertheless, the Mercedes are still the favourites heading into qualifying. Sebastian Vettel completes the top three at the end of FP3.

Hungaroring - Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday 25 July

Results free practice 3 
 P  No Driver             Team          Time     Gap   Laps 
 1  44 Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes      1:22.997         12 
 2   6 Nico Rosberg       Mercedes      1:23.095 +0.098s 20 
 3   5 Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari       1:23.886 +0.889s 19 
 4  26 Daniil Kvyat       Red Bull      1:24.215 +1.218s 17 
 5  55 Carlos Sainz       Toro Rosso    1:24.326 +1.329s 22 
 6  27 Nico Hulkenberg    Force India   1:24.483 +1.486s 30 
 7  33 Max Verstappen     Toro Rosso    1:24.678 +1.681s 22 
 8  14 Fernando Alonso    McLaren       1:24.846 +1.849s 16 
 9   3 Daniel Ricciardo   Red Bull      1:24.929 +1.932s 12 
10   8 Romain Grosjean    Lotus         1:24.941 +1.944s 22 
11  13 Pastor Maldonado   Lotus         1:24.953 +1.956s 16 
12  19 Felipe Massa       Williams      1:25.094 +2.097s 13 
13  22 Jenson Button      McLaren       1:25.229 +2.232s 16 
14  77 Valtteri Bottas    Williams      1:25.345 +2.348s 17 
15  11 Sergio Perez       Force India   1:25.393 +2.396s 25 
16   7 Kimi Räikkönen     Ferrari       1:25.661 +2.664s 12 
17  12 Felipe Nasr        Sauber        1:26.060 +3.063s 20 
18   9 Marcus Ericsson    Sauber        1:26.095 +3.098s 20 
19  28 Will Stevens       Marussia      1:28.757 +5.760s 19 
20  98 Roberto Merhi      Marussia      1:28.908 +5.911s 20 

On Twitter and Facebook we'll keep you updated throughout the weekend followed by a full report on Verstappen.nl at the end of the day’s action.

You can find the schedule for the Hungarian Grand Prix here. 

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