Free Practice 3 – Abu Dhabi: Rosberg starts the last Saturday of the season strong

Nico Rosberg on his way to a sixth consecutive Pole? It is tempting to ask this question just a few minutes before the final Qualifying session of this 2015 season.

In any case, the Mercedes team driver will arrive full of confidence, having set a benchmark time of 1m41.856s during the third Free Practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

It should be noted, however, that Lewis Hamilton did not have the opportunity to fully defend his chances. After setting the benchmark on soft tires during the first part of the session (despite a spin), the Englishman could not get a clear lap in the final part due to traffic.

But the triple World Champion also complained of oversteer. Furthermore, he climbed over the curb twice at turn 5. He had to ease off to avoid damaging his car too much.

He consequently finished 281 tenths behind Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton goes for a spin at turn 5. Gusts of wind causing a few issues out there #FP3 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/nc7vGdgw2y

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 28, 2015

Behind, Sebastian Vettel regained his position as the third man, clocking in at 0.329 seconds behind the leader, just ahead of Force India’s driver, Sergio Pérez, who thus finds himself in fourth place. The Mexican confirmed his car’s good form on this track: he will be keen to once again outpace Kimi Räikkönen in the other Ferrari. “Iceman” finished this session in fifth position, more than four-tenths behind Vettel. Daniel Ricciardo also seems capable of claiming a good position, with this sixth place achieved at the end of the session.

The Williams of Massa and Bottas finished in the middle of the pack, and one wonders this time if they will be able to climb higher this afternoon.

Jenson Button will have hopes for a good position with this impressive eleventh place, half a second ahead of his teammate, Fernando Alonso, who also complained about significant traffic.

On the reliability front, Daniil Kvyat had a difficult session due to an electrical problem with his power unit. The Russian managed only two miserable installation laps.

Daniil Kvyat is the only man yet to set a time in #FP3. Red Bull fixing an electrical issue #FP3 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/oggNZ4Kd1Q

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 28, 2015

However, the session was conducted in the afternoon on the Yas Marina circuit: the temperatures expected later during the Qualifications will be lower; it will be 5 PM in Abu Dhabi, and dusk will begin to fall. Consequently, the work of the teams for this session was significantly different.

The whole challenge for the drivers ahead of the Qualifying will be to compensate for a terrible oversteer, which seems to be the main problem faced by the teams here in Abu Dhabi…

Here is the detailed ranking of this session: