Max on P2 after final free practice in Monaco

Published on 26 May 2018 by Raymond Snip

Max Verstappen recorded the second fastest time during the third free practice, leading up to the Grand Prix of Monaco. Unfortunately, during the final phase of the session, the young Dutchman ended up in the crash barrier at the 3,340 meter-long Monte Carlo street circuit. Teammate Daniel Ricciardo was the fastest while Sebastian Vettel, in his Ferrari, drove to P3.

Earlier this weekend Renault’s Cyril Abiteboul already announced that there was doubt about the reliability of the Renault engine in the back of Max’ RB14. Prior to the third and final free practice in Monaco it was anounced that the turbo on Max's car had been replaced. With this he is on his second turbo.

The session starts under almost perfect conditions. From the moment the lights go green, there is action on the track. Max is also out early and after an installation lap he returns to the pits. Kimi Raikkonen is the first to put a time on the clock. The Finn opens with a 1.13.729 on the hyper soft tyres.

After almost twenty minutes in the session, both Aston Martin Red Bull Racing drivers go out on a set of hyper-soft tyres. Ricciardo immediately puts himself on P1. Max improves and takes the fastest time from his teammate. It goes back and forth, since a lap later it is the Australian who regains P1. Max, again, counters with an even faster round. He sets a 1.11.990. It stays that way for a while. In the next lap Ricciardo backs out. In the meantime, Max speeds up once more and improves his fastest time. With a 1.11.787 the quick Dutchman sets a new track record.

After ten and twelve laps, respectively, Max and Ricciardo return to the garage. 11 minutes before the end of the session they come out for another run. It is busy on track because the only one still in the pits is Lance Stroll.

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Results third free practice Monaco: