Verstappen in P1 in third free practice Barcelona

Published on 08 May 2021 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen finished the third free practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix as fastest. The Dutchman did eleven laps on the 4.675-kilometre-long Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, setting a 1:17.835 as his fastest time on the soft tyres. Lewis Hamilton finished second more than two tenths behind Verstappen, Charles Leclerc completed the top three.

The temperature is twenty-three degrees when the light at the end of the pitlane goes green for the start of the final free practice session. After a couple of minutes, the first driver to leave the pitlane is Fernando Alonso, he sets a couple of lap times.

After more than twenty minutes, Max Verstappen also comes out on track. The Dutchman, who will be driving his one hundredth Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing, has the yellow medium tyres on his RB16B. In his first timed lap he sets a 1:18.630, good for second position, two tenths behind Vallteri Bottas who set his time on soft tyres. Not much later Lewis Hamilton takes the lead – also on the soft tyre – with a 1:18.304. The seven-time world champion can even improve his time by taking two tenths off, increasing the gap to Verstappen to half a second.

With twenty minutes on the clock the top six is formed by Lewis Hamilton (1:18.117), Valtteri Bottas (+0.306), Max Verstappen (+0.513), Charles Leclerc (+0.765), Carlos Sainz (+0.932) and Antonio Giovinazzi (+1.251). Only Max set his time on the medium tyre.

With only twelve minutes to go, the Red Bull Racing driver comes out on track one more time, this time on soft tyres. With a 1:17.835 the Dutchman takes the lead, which is not taken from him again. Lewis Hamilton finishes in second position, more than two tenths behind Verstappen. Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas and Lando Norris form the rest of the top six. Sergio Pérez is in tenth position and will have to do some work to be ready for qualifying, starting at 15.00 this afternoon.

Contest GP Spain: win a by Max signed Red Bull Racing driver cap

Results third free practice Spain: