Max tops the leaderboard in final practice Texas

Published on 22 October 2016 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen was the fastest on track during the third free practice in the run up to the United States Grand Prix. On the 5,515 meters long Circuit of the Americas, it was team mate Daniel Ricciardo who was the second fastest for Red Bull Racing. Kimi Raikkonen finished in third in his Ferrari.

Prior to the session, it finally became clear what the situation for Daniil Kvyat will be for the next season. Scuderia Toro Rosso has announced that the Russian will be driving for the Faenza based outfit next year as well.

In sunny but cool weather conditions, the third free practice gets underway. Sebastian Vettel is the first to venture out, followed by Esteban Gutierrez and Kimi Raikkonen. After an installation lap, all three of them head back to the pits. Eventually, Esteban Ocon is the first to put a time on the clocks.

After some ten minutes, we see Max for the first time on track. On a new set of medium tyres Max is the provisional fastest. His team mate trails by a good half a second in P2. Not much later, Sergio Perez splits the Red Bulls.

Carlos Sainz’ Toro Rosso chugs back slowly to the pits after about some fifteen minutes due to a flat right rear tyre. At the front of the field, Max and Ricciardo are constantly playing tag until Raikkonen joins the party. Pascal Wehrlein triggers a code red when he buries his Manor deep in the gravel trap. This is immediately the end of the session for the 2015 DTM-champion.

While the Manor is retrieved, the clock keeps ticking away meaning that precious time is being lost. With a little over 30 minutes the session is eventually restarted. Max heads out on track but returns immediately back to the pits. Halfway during the session, there are only eight names on the leaderboard with the Ferrari’s leading both the Red Bulls.

While Max is still in the pits, his team mate is P1 on the super soft tyres with both Mercedes in second and third. Hamilton and Rosberg both did their times on the soft tyre. Perhaps they are going to qualify on these tyres in Q2.

Sainz is not out of the woods yet as he suffers a second flat tyre during this session. This time it is the left rear tyre that has a puncture. Max has ventured back out on track again on a set of the super softs. The quick Dutchman tops the leaderboard after a lightning lap, well ahead of Ricciardo. The Ferrari’s, having done their times also on the super softs, are a second off the pace at that moment.

With still five minutes remaining on the clock, Max heads back out again on a scrubbed set of the super softs. In the meantime, Rosberg has also strapped on the super soft tyres on his Mercedes. In the first two sectors, the German loses some time to Max and then aborts his run. Hamilton gets his head down for a fast lap but even the reigning world champion falls short, resulting in Max ending the session as the fastest.

United States Grand Prix - Circuit of the Americas - Saturday 22 October

Third Free Practice

01 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:36.766          16
02  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:37.032 +0.266s  19
03  7 Kimi Raikkonen      Ferrari                     1:37.284 +0.518s  15
04 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:37.483 +0.717s  12
05  6 Nico Rosberg        Mercedes                    1:37.784 +1.018s  10
06  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:37.894 +1.128s  8
07 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Force India Mercedes        1:37.948 +1.182s  17
08 77 Valtteri Bottas     Williams Mercedes           1:38.188 +1.422s  16
09 22 Jenson Button       McLaren Honda               1:38.212 +1.446s  14
10 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:38.452 +1.686s  13
11 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:38.512 +1.746s  16
12 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:38.528 +1.762s  14
13 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:38.607 +1.841s  15
14 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:38.691 +1.925s  16
15 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:38.710 +1.944s  6
16 21 Esteban Gutierrez   Haas Ferrari                1:38.939 +2.173s  13
17  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:39.097 +2.331s  13
18 20 Kevin Magnussen     Renault                     1:39.105 +2.339s  14
19  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:39.239 +2.473s  14
20 12 Felipe Nasr         Sauber Ferrari              1:39.509 +2.743s  14
21 31 Esteban Ocon        MRT Mercedes                1:39.771 +3.005s  19
22 94 Pascal Wehrlein     MRT Mercedes                1:41.427 +4.661s  7 

Click here to enter our competition and a chance to win the Max Verstappen #33 driver cap!