F1 BAHRAIN GP FP3 – VERSTAPPEN COMFORTABLY LEADS

F1 Bahrain GP FP3 – That’s a power lap from Max Verstappen, who is 1.3s quicker than his new team-mate. Probably won’t do Perez’s confidence much good…

Max Verstappen delivers what we’ve been waiting for – on his first lap with the softs, he’s a full 0.739s quicker than Hamilton with a 1m30.577s.

Full final practice results for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit, the opening round of the 2021 F1 world championship season.

Full Formula 1 results from the final practice session of the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir. 

2021 F1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX – FREE PRACTICE RESULTS (3)

There’s certainly a theme to the weekend beginning to emerge isn’t there? Verstappen has been fastest in all three sessions, and Mercedes – or Bottas at least, judging by his several lap deletions for track limits – don’t appear happy. Could it really be this straightforward for qualifying though? Does Mercedes have a magic bullet to deploy?

Max Verstappen underlined the potential of Red Bull’s RB16B as he finished comfortably clear of his rivals during final practice for Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Verstappen topped both of Friday’s sessions ahead of the new campaign and extended his margin during the daytime FP3 session, held in exceptionally hot conditions.

As drivers carried out runs on Soft tyres Verstappen clocked a time of 1:30.577s to finish over seven-tenths clear of World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen was fastest through all three sectors of the 5.4km circuit with his margin largest through the downforce-heavy middle section.

Hamilton was the only other driver to finish within a second of Verstappen’s benchmark.

While Verstappen moved emphatically clear fellow Honda-powered squad AlphaTauri also showed encouraging speed.

Pierre Gasly finished third overall to classify ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, who both trailed their respective team-mates.

Carlos Sainz emerged as lead Ferrari driver once more, taking sixth, while Kimi Raikkonen claimed a strong seventh for Alfa Romeo.

Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll put Alpine and Aston Martin into the top 10 while their team-mates had a more subdued showing.

Four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel was only 14th while the returning Fernando Alonso classified 15th.

McLaren finished as the second-fastest team on Friday courtesy of Lando Norris but slipped down the timesheets on Saturday.

Daniel Ricciardo rounded out the top 10 while Lando Norris was a low-key 16th in the sister MCL35M.

Williams and Haas once more finished at the back, with George Russell eclipsing reigning Formula 2 champion Mick Schumacher by a tenth of a second.

F1 BAHRAIN GP FP3 F1 BAHRAIN GP FP3

F1 BAHRAIN GP – VERSTAPPEN FASTEST IN FP2

F1 BAHRAIN GP – VERSTAPPEN FASTEST IN FP1

IS 2021 MAX VERSTAPPEN’S YEAR? IS HE READY FOR A TITLE?

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