Home F1 Sakhir GP: Verstappen fastest in FP3 as Vettel set for engine change

Max Verstappen, F1, Sakhir GP — BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - DECEMBER 04: 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 Sakhir at Bahrain International Circuit on December 04, 2020 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202012040604 // Usage for editorial use only //

Sakhir GP: Verstappen fastest in FP3 as Vettel set for engine change

05/12/2020

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was fastest in F1 Sakhir GP FP3 ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly.

The F1 Sakhir GP FP3 session had delayed qualifying trim for most as drivers wanted to use the best track surface to push for it. Mercedes had their run early as Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen kept it late to end up fastest with a 56.064s lap.

He beat Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas (54.270s) by 0.206s after the Finn looked better after his Friday troubles. The Mercedes could have gone a bit faster on his quick lap, after losing time in the final corner. The Dutchman also had a spin early on too.

AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (54.427s) did well in third from Renault’s Esteban Ocon (54.453s) with McLaren’s Lando Norris (54.606s) finally getting a good run in fifth after a troubled Friday all around, with Red Bull’s Alexander Albon (54.629s) in sixth.

Interestingly, Albon set his best lap on the medium tyres. Friday’s F1 Sakhir GP pace-setter George Russell (54.664s) could only manage seventh in FP3, as Racing Point’s Sergio Perez (54.678s) & Lance Stroll (54.693s) and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz (54.720s) were in the Top 10.

Alfa Romeo Racing’s Antonio Giovinazzi (54.845s) slotted in 11th ahead of AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat (54.850s) with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (54.854s) in 13th. The Monegasque had a late spin after the chequered flag fell as teammate Sebastian Vettel is set for an engine change.

The German looked good in the session but was forced to pit due to a suspected issue which was engine related. Ferrari is likely to have an engine change – without penalty – as there will be engine parts changes for Haas’ Pietro Fittipaldi too, with penalty.

Vettel (54.858s) ended up 15th behind Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo (54.857s) after the Australian ran wide on his first quick lap. Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen (55.171s) could only manage 16th from Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (55.347s).

Williams’ Nicholas Latifi (55.493s) slotted in 18th with teammate Jack Aitken (55.670s) 20th behind Haas’ Pietro Fittipaldi (55.666s).

Here’s what all said after Friday of F1 Sakhir GP