Max sixth in final practice at Hockenheim: “Focusing on the long run”

Published on 30 July 2016 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen finished sixth in the third free practice in the run up to the German Grand Prix. On the 4,574 meter long Hockenheimring, Mercedes-driver Nico Rosberg was the fastest, followed by his team mate Lewis Hamilton. Daniel Ricciardo came in third in his Red Bull. The two Ferrari’s then follow with Max in P6. All of them within half a second of each other.

“It was not all too bad”, Max tells Verstappen.nl passing by. “We focused ourselves mainly on the long run and the setup for the race. From that we got some interesting data that we will be looking at very closely.” Are you happy with the speed? “During qualifying, Mercedes normally takes it up a notch, but regarding speed, we can reasonably follow.”

Prior to the third free practice, it is clear that the FIA is allowing the drivers to use the entire kerbstones in turn one. When the lights turn green, the weather is beautiful and the thermometer indicates some 24 degrees. Many drivers choose to go for an installation lap immediately. At the same moment, Max is, as we normally see him do, preparing himself for his first run on Saturday.

After eight minutes, we see the fast Dutchman making to the track on a new set of the soft compound tyre. After his first complete lap at full speed, we briefly see him top the leaderboard. Not much later, both of the Williams’ drivers better Max’ time, but they both do so on the supersofts.

After well over fifteen minutes in the session, we finally see Ricciardo on track, as Max is about to pit. Ricciardo only does an installation lap which doesn’t put him on the leaderboard. At the front, the usual suspects are leading the pack, being the both Mercedes.

Half way during the session, Max heads back out again on a new set of the super soft tyres and not much later he clocks the third fastest time. In front of him, we see the both Mercedes while behind of him we find the Ferrari’s. Still there is a time lacking behind the name of Ricciardo. When that eventually happens, after well over half an hour, he clocks the eighth fastest time and shortly after he is sixth. Max reports on the radio that he is having problems charging the batteries and heads for the pits.

Due to a gear box problem, Romain Grosjean is last, and with fifteen minutes remaining, it becomes clear that it might need to be changed. If so, a grid penalty will follow. By now, Max is out on a used set of the super softs for a longer run. He has been dropped by now to P5, behind both of the Ferrari’s. 

With still five minutes remaining, Ricciardo grabs P3, ultimately dropping Max one more spot to eventually sixth. The young Dutchman is still lapping the course on the used set of super softs and by now has done over twelve laps. He continues on till the flag drops.

German Grand Prix - Hockenheim - Saturday 30 July

RESULTS FREE PRACTICE 3

01  6 Nico Rosberg        Mercedes                    1:15.738          16
02 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:15.795 +0.057s  19
03  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:15.837 +0.099s  13
04  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:15.902 +0.164s  16
05  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:16.104 +0.366s  20
06 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:16.182 +0.444s  23
07 77 Valtteri Bottas     Williams Mercedes           1:16.400 +0.662s  28
08 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:16.630 +0.892s  26
09 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:16.916 +1.178s  11
10 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Force India Mercedes        1:16.972 +1.234s  16
11 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:17.028 +1.290s  20
12 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:17.066 +1.328s  10
13 21 Esteban Gutierrez   Haas Ferrari                1:17.160 +1.422s  17
14 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:17.227 +1.489s  19
15 20 Kevin Magnussen     Renault                     1:17.351 +1.613s  9
16 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:17.473 +1.735s  23
17  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:17.685 +1.947s  19
18 12 Felipe Nasr         Sauber Ferrari              1:18.057 +2.319s  24
19 22 Jenson Button       McLaren Honda               1:18.093 +2.355s  6
20 94 Pascal Wehrlein     MRT Mercedes                1:18.270 +2.532s  24
21 88 Rio Haryanto        MRT Mercedes                1:18.272 +2.534s  18
22  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:25.160 +9.422s  4 

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