Max P2 in final practice session: "We're confident"

Published on 01 October 2016 by Stefan Meens

In the run up to qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen recorded an excellent P2 in the final free practice session on Saturday morning. Only Lewis Hamilton lapped the Sepang International circuit faster than the Red Bull Racing driver. Nico Rosberg completed the top three as Max' team mate Daniel Ricciardo finished sixth.

“On the medium and soft tyres, the cars feels really great”, said Max to Verstappen.nl. “I'm confident heading into qualifying. It's going to be tight, but if we can be in front of the Ferraris, then we're looking good for the race.”

Fernando Alonso and Esteban Gutierrez are the first driver on track when FP3 gets under way. Max and Daniel Ricciardo join the the new surfaced track five minutes into the session. The 19-year-old does a single installation lap, whilst his Australian team mate stays out for a stint on the medium Pirellis.

Max has put his mechanics to work after noting the car pulls to the right. Not long after, the youngster heads back out on a set of mediums. Despite informing the team that he power unit feels strange in the first two corners, Max stays out for a longer stint.

With ten minutes to go, Max focusses on a qualifying simulation. An excellent effort on the soft compound, propels Max into second, splitting the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Malaysian Grand Prix - Sepang International Circuit - Sunday 1 October 

FREE PRACTICE 3 RESULTS

01 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:34.434           16
02 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:34.879  +0.445s  14
03  6 Nico Rosberg        Mercedes                    1:35.053  +0.619s  16
04  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:35.150  +0.716s  15
05  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:35.170  +0.736s  14
06  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:35.461  +1.027s  22
07 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Force India Mercedes        1:35.776  +1.342s  16
08 77 Valtteri Bottas     Williams Mercedes           1:35.902  +1.468s  17
09 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:36.222  +1.788s  18
10 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:36.227  +1.793s  20
11 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:36.259  +1.825s  15
12 22 Jenson Button       McLaren Honda               1:36.363  +1.929s  11
13 21 Esteban Gutierrez   Haas Ferrari                1:36.553  +2.119s  14
14 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:36.604  +2.170s  20
15  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:36.687  +2.253s  15
16 20 Kevin Magnussen     Renault                     1:36.741  +2.307s  19
17 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:36.752  +2.318s  20
18  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:36.765  +2.331s  19
19 12 Felipe Nasr         Sauber Ferrari              1:37.106  +2.672s  18
20 31 Esteban Ocon        MRT Mercedes                1:37.961  +3.527s  17
21 94 Pascal Wehrlein     MRT Mercedes                1:38.089  +3.655s  13
22 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:41.199  +6.765s  15 

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