Japan – Free Practice 3: Rosberg on top and Hamilton crashes before qualifying

While the announcement of Sebastian Vettel’s departure is not very old, the paddock resumes its normal pace under a cloudy sky and cooler temperatures than the previous day. The effects of the approaching typhoon.

The session is underway. Esteban Gutierrez runs a bit wide before the chicane braking. Moments later, Marcus Ericsson gets caught at the chicane. After fifteen minutes, eleven drivers have set a time, with Daniel Ricciardo leading with a 1:35.885, ahead of Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button. Jean-Eric Vergne is the first to switch to soft tires, quickly moving to the top of the timesheet with a 1:35.494.

Romain Grosjean complains about braking issues. Shortly before the midway point of the session, the Williams briefly take the lead one after the other, but Nico Rosberg ultimately surpasses them, as does Fernando Alonso, who falls three-tenths short of the German. Lewis Hamilton sets the pace for everyone, with a time of 1:34.210, three-tenths ahead of his teammate. At the same time, Kimi Räikkönen announces that he is experiencing a power issue and is limping back to the pits.

After the first half-hour, Hamilton is ahead of Rosberg, Alonso, Massa, and Bottas. Vettel is complaining of a KERS issue on his Red Bull. The German’s engine problem forces him to retire after the session ends. Meanwhile, at Toro Rosso, Vergne is out of the car and has removed his suit; he won’t be returning to the track, just like Kimi Räikkönen, whose engine needs to be changed.

10 minutes before the end of the session, Nico Rosberg captures the three best sectors to take the lead with a time of 1:33.228 on medium tires. Moments later, Lewis Hamilton makes a mistake in the first corner and hits the tire wall. His Mercedes is damaged on the front left. A few minutes later, Maldonado goes off under the same conditions but doesn’t hit the wall.

Under the checkered flag, Nico Rosberg easily retains the lead, ahead of Lewis Hamilton whom no one has overtaken despite his best time on hard tires, and Fernando Alonso.