Max seventh after final free practice in Barcelona

Published on 11 May 2019 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen finished seventh after the third and final free practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. On the 4,655 meter long Circuit de Barecelona-Catalunya, Lewis Hamilton dominated in his Mercedes, followed by Ferrari-running Charles Leclerc and Mercedes-driver Valtteri Bottas in second and third.

At the start of the session, there is an overcast and it’s slightly cooler than the first two free practice sessions on Friday. Max is already in his car when the lights turn green at the end of the pit lane. Lando Norris is the first one out on track in his Mercedes, in his wake team mate Carlos Sainz. After some on track action, Max also makes to the track. And, after an installation lap on the hard compound tyre, the Dutchman returns back to the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing-team. Meanwhile, Robert Kubica is the first one to get a timed lap.

Most of the teams stay in for quite some time before any serious attempt is undertaken to get a time on the clocks. Ferrari and Renault are the exception. After fifteen minutes, Sebastian Vettel is the quickest ahead of team mate Charles Leclerc. Vettel spins however at the chicane before the start/finish line, but is able to continue on without any damages.

That isn’t the same for Valtteri Bottas. The Finn brings out the red flag when he spins and slides off track in Turn five during his out lap on cold tyres. His car is stuck in the gravel trap causing the session to be halted. All the cars head back to the pits as the clock keeps ticking on. With less than half an hour on the clock, the lights turn green again.

After the restart and getting a timed lap on his mind, Max heads out on track with the medium tyres strapped on to his car. His first flying lap puts him in P4, behind both Ferraris and Hamilton’s Mercedes. The latter tops the board moments later and returns back to the pits. Meanwhile, Bottas’ car has been brought back to the pits. Maybe the Finn is able to put in some more laps before the end of the session.

Then the phase where the teams simulate qualifying arrives. Bottas is the first to take P1 but Leclerc is not having any of that and moments later demotes the Finn from that spot. Some time later, reigning world champion Hamilton, takes that position over from the Monegasque. Meanwhile, Max gets a new set of softs strapped on to his RB15 and he is sent on his way. Max, running currently in P9, runs into traffic in the last sector but moves up to P7, behind both Haas’ drivers who are fifth and sixth.

George Russel triggers a second red flag in the closing stages. The Briton spins off track in Turn four and hits the tyre wall in his Williams, rear side first. This brings an end to the session.

Spanish GP contest: Win the scale model of Max Verstappen RB14 Spain 2018

Results third free practice Spain: