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Verstappen on top after final free practice Bahrain

Published on 19 March 2022 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen finished the third free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix as fastest. The Dutchman drove fourteen laps on the 5.412-kilometre-long Bahrain International Circuit and set a 1:32.544 as fastest time on soft tyres. Charlec Leclerc (+0.096) and Sergio Pérez (+0.247) completed the top three.

It is 3PM local time when the lights at the end of the pitlane go green. Kevin Magnussen, together with the two Alfa Romeo drivers, are the first to come out on track. After fifteen minutes gets Max Verstappen in his car. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver leaves the pitlane on soft tyres a couple of minutes later, setting straight away the fastest time thus far (1:33.035).

Halfway the session the top six is formed by Verstappen, Charles Leclerc (+0.762), Carlos Sainz (+1.113), Sergio Pérez (+1.125), Lewis Hamilton (+1.221) and Kevin Magnussen (+1.228). Yuki Tsunoda has not driven any laps at that time. The Japanese had a hydraulic issue when exiting his pit box and was pushed back in straight away.

With still more than twenty minutes to go sets Lewis Hamilton the second fastest time (1:33.121) on softs. Not much later this position is taken over by Carlos Sainz, who sets a 1:33.053, only eighteen thousandths of a second slower than Verstappen.

From now on the pace goes up. When George Russell takes the lead, Max leaves the pitlane on a fresh set of soft tyres. His first attempt is not completely faultless, but when the Red Bull Racing driver goes again, he sets a 1:32.544 as the fastest time.

Verstappen’s time will not be improved; thus, the world champion finishes the session as fastest. Teammate Sergio Pérez puts his RB18 in third position, one and a half tenth behind Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. George Russell, Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton complete the top six. 

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Results third free practice Bahrain:

posdriverteamtimelaps
1Max VerstappenVERRed Bull Racing RBPT1:32.544
2Charles LeclercLECFerrari1:32.640+0.096s
3Sergio PerezPERRed Bull Racing RBPT1:32.791+0.247s
4George RussellRUSMercedes1:32.935+0.391s
5Carlos SainzSAIFerrari1:33.053+0.509s
6Lewis HamiltonHAMMercedes1:33.121+0.577s
7Kevin MagnussenMAGHaas Ferrari1:33.437+0.893s
8Valtteri BottasBOTAlfa Romeo Ferrari1:33.733+1.189s
9Zhou GuanyuZHOAlfa Romeo Ferrari1:33.880+1.336s
10Lance StrollSTRAston Martin Mercedes1:33.920+1.376s
11Lando NorrisNORMcLaren Mercedes1:33.955+1.411s
12Nico HulkenbergHULAston Martin Mercedes1:33.971+1.427s
13Pierre GaslyGASAlphaTauri RBPT1:34.176+1.632s
14Mick SchumacherMSCHaas Ferrari1:34.295+1.751s
15Daniel RicciardoRICMcLaren Mercedes1:34.378+1.834s
16Fernando AlonsoALOAlpine Renault1:34.628+2.084s
17Alexander AlbonALBWilliams Mercedes1:34.868+2.324s
18Esteban OconOCOAlpine Renault1:34.957+2.413s
19Nicholas LatifiLATWilliams Mercedes1:35.667+3.123s