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Bahrain GP: Verstappen holds off Mercedes’ charge topping FP3

  • Darshan Chokhani
    • F1, Bahrain GP, Max Verstappen

    BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - NOVEMBER 27: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB16 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on November 27, 2020 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202011270113 // Usage for editorial use only //

    Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen ended Mercedes’ charge in F1 Bahrain GP FP3 with Lewis Hamilton P2 and Valtteri Bottas P3.

    It remained cloudy for FP3 in F1 Bahrain GP as Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen stopped the charge of Mercedes by ending up fastest with a 1m28.355s despite having some issues with the DRS as it was oscillating quite hard, needing a change.

    It didn’t hinder Verstappen as he led Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton (1m28.618s) and Valtteri Bottas (1m28.721s), with teammate Alexander Albon (1m29.018s) doing a good job in fourth. The Thai had a new chassis after Red Bull decided to bring in a new one.

    Replays showed an interesting movement inside the Mercedes garage on Hamilton’s side with FIA Technical Director Jo Bauer speaking with the team’s personnel. It wasn’t clear but Sky Sports F1 commentary guessed it to be the steering wheel.

    Meanwhile, back for the rest of the Bahrain GP FP3 standings, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz (1m29.455s) was best of the rest in fifth with teammate Lando Norris (1m29.567s) seventh around the two AlphaTauri drivers with Pierre Gasly sixth and Daniil Kvyat eighth.

    The Frenchman set a 1m29.472s as the Russian had a 1m29.585s as his fastest time. The Top 10 was rounded out by Racing Point drivers with Lance Stroll (1m29.660s) and Sergio Perez (1m29.672s), with Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m29.684s) in 11th.

    He just pipped teammate Esteban Ocon (1m29.691s) as Ferrari’s leading driver was Sebastian Vettel (1m29.859s) in 13th with teammate Charles Leclerc (1m30.183s) only 15th behind Alfa Romeo Racing’s Antonio Giovinazzi (1m29.970s).

    Both Leclerc and Giovinazzi had new gearbox taken but without any penalty. It was a solid time from Williams’ George Russell (1m30.559s), where the Brit ended up 16th ahead of the Haas pair and Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen (1m30.823s).

    Haas’ Romain Grosjean (1m30.652s) was 17th from Kevin Magnussen (1m30.759s) as Williams’ Nicholas Latifi (1m30.917s) ended up 20th. The FIA noted of curfew work from the British team on the Canadian’s car.

    Here’s how Friday in F1 Bahrain GP went