Max fifth in final US GP practice

Published on 21 October 2017 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished the final practice session of the USA Grand Prix in fifth. Lewis Hamilton was fastest, followed by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton’s Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas completed the top three. Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo was ninth fastest.

Max is the first driver out on track. However, it is Formula 1 débutante Brandon Hartley who is the first to put a time on the board.

After a quiet opening quarter, most drivers start to clock lap times, with the Ferraris and Mercedes setting the pace.

Meanwhile, Max has gone out on a set of the ultra-soft Pirellis. He has to abort his first flying lap due to a virtual safety car; Romain Grosjean has lost control and beached his Haas F1.

Another driver without lady luck on his side, is F1 returnee Daniil Kvyat. The Russian’s Scuderia Toro Rosso suffers a suspension problem, meaning he is out for the remainder of FP3.

In the closing stages of the session, most drivers opt for qualifying simulations. Max sets his personal best, 1:35.103, on a brand new set of the ultra-softs. In the end, this lap time grants him fifth, behind the quartet of Mercedes and Ferrari.

US GP - Circuit Of The Americas - Saturday 21 October

FREE PRACTICE 3 RESULTS

01 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:34.478          15
02  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:34.570 +0.092s  19
03 77 Valtteri Bottas     Mercedes                    1:34.692 +0.214s  17
04  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:34.755 +0.277s  17
05 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:35.103 +0.625s  14
06 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:35.346 +0.868s  11
07 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Renault                     1:35.608 +1.130s  21
08 55 Carlos Sainz        Renault                     1:35.650 +1.172s  16
09  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:35.723 +1.245s  17
10 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:35.802 +1.324s  16
11 31 Esteban Ocon        Force India Mercedes        1:35.965 +1.487s  17
12 18 Lance Stroll        Williams Mercedes           1:36.118 +1.640s  12
13 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:36.239 +1.761s  15
14  2 Stoffel Vandoorne   McLaren Honda               1:36.599 +2.121s  14
15 39 Brendon Hartley     Toro Rosso                  1:36.818 +2.340s  26
16 20 Kevin Magnussen     Haas Ferrari                1:37.271 +2.793s  16
17  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:37.319 +2.841s  17
18 94 Pascal Wehrlein     Sauber Ferrari              1:37.807 +3.329s  15
19  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:37.891 +3.413s  9
20 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso                  1:38.500 +4.022s  6