Max on P17 after rainy FP3 in Zandvoort

Published on 24 August 2024 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen has finished the third free practice in anticipation of the Dutch Grand Prix in seventeenth place. The session was, for the most part, a waiting game after Logan Sargeant suffered an intense crash in his Williams through turn four. On the CM.com Circuit Zandvoort, it was Pierre Gasly in his Alpine that went fastest, ahead of Kevin Magnussen's Haas in P2. Valterri Bottas drove third fastest in his Sauber. Lando Norris in his McLaren, and Fernando Alonso in his Aston Martin, completed the top five. Max's Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate, Sergio Perez, set no time. 

At the start of the third training, the rain is still pouring down and the track is soaking wet. The weather promises to be cloudy and rainy for the coming hour. Not many drivers take to the track, nor are planning to. Eventually, it is Haas that breaks the stalemate, sending out both drivers onto the track. In their wake, Bottas also takes to the track in his Sauber.

After eight minutes Oscar Piastri is the first to set a flying lap. Max, in the meantime, is making ready to join them on track. Sometime later it is Nico Hülkenberg in his Haas that is seen shooting straight through at Hans Ernst corner and consequently smashes his front wing against the Tecpro barriers. The German is able to continue and slowly returns to the pits. He is flagged for investigation by the stewards for driving in an unsafe manner.

Moments later it is Sargeant that causes a code red. The American drives through turn three onto the grass, loses control over his Williams and shoots into the barriers at turn four. The car catches fire, but Sargeant safely exists the car and walks away unscathed. 

The question now is whether or not the session will resume. There is so much debris from the destroyed car that it looks unlikely. With just 39 minutes on the clock, and no official pausing of the session, hopes are dwindling. 

There is also the question of whether or not Sargeant can participate in qualifying later in the day, or even in the race tomorrow. The marshals busy themselves with repairing the crash barriers and removing the leaked oil from the track. With just twenty minutes left on the clock, drivers start returning to their cars - it appears the session will be resumed. 

With ten minutes left the announcement comes from race control that the session will probably continue at 12:25. By now it has become dry and the sun is shining. Moments later, the time is delayed to 12:27, allowing time only for an warm up lap, and possibly a test start.

Finally, with two minutes to go, the track is cleared for action. The entire line-up goes onto the track to get a feel for the conditions. When the flag is waved, it is Gasly who has set the fastest time ahead of Magnussen's Haas and Bottas' Sauber.

Contest Dutch GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results third free practice Netherlands: