Max in P5 in final free practice Russia

Published on 28 September 2019 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen has finished the third free practice for the Russian Grand Prix in fifth position. The Dutchman did twelve laps and set a fastest time of 1:34.227. In his last flying lap Max was improving, but he spun and went into the pits. The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel took the first two places. Lewis Hamilton finishend his Mercedes in P3.

Despite the threat of rain, the third free practice session starts on a dry Sochi Autodrom. Alexander Albon is the first driver to do a timed lap. After fifteen minutes the drivers of Mercedes and Ferrari come out on track. It takes a while before Max comes out.

Daniil Kvyat comes to a halt. The Russian parks his Toro Rosso next to the track with technical issues and a short Virtual Safety car period follows. When the track is clear Max starts his first flying lap. Verstappen sets a 1:34.837 on the medium tyre compound. Not much later Max improves his time (1:34.227), which takes him into third position. After a stint of nine laps the Dutchman returns to the pits of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

In the last twenty minutes the drivers of Ferrari show their true speed. Leclerc sets the fastest time (1:32.733), teammate Vettel more than three tenths behind. Max comes out on track with only ten minutes to go on the soft tyres. During his fast lap Max spins in turn fourteen and returns to the pits.

This way Max finishes the third free practice in fifth position. The Ferraris of Leclerc and Vettel finish in the first two places. The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas set the third and fourth time. Romain Grosjean is the ‘best of the rest’ in P6.

At 14:00 Dutch time the qualifying will start.

Russian GP contest: win a grey MAXRAW hooded sweat vest!

Results third free practice Russia: