Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Free Practice 3: Verstappen Untouchable, Renault Positions Itself

The sun unsurprisingly welcomes the third free practice session in Abu Dhabi.

Shy beginnings, the first quarter-hour was devoid of any play.

The Haas and Latifi’s Williams are the first to hit the asphalt this Saturday.

After the initial laps and approaching mid-session, Alexander Albon leads the times with 1:37.536 ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. Valtteri Bottas follows ahead of the two Renaults. All are on soft tires except for Norris, who seems comfortable on this track.

Max Verstappen quickly sets the record straight by improving his teammate’s time by 0.3 seconds.

Valtteri Bottas then comes close behind his teammate, thus establishing the order of teams with Red Bull ahead of Mercedes, and this at mid-session.

Simulation qualifying laps are being prepared, and in this game, Max Verstappen achieves a lap of 1:36.734. Lewis Hamilton is in 2nd place at this stage, more than half a second behind.

With a track that has little rubber and no other category racing this weekend, the track record set by Lewis Hamilton last year at 1:34.779 seems difficult to reach. Indeed, the cars visibly slide, both understeering and oversteering.

10 minutes before the end of the session, Lando Norris achieves the 2nd best time with 1:36.994 after a superb lap, thus confirming his intentions for the qualifications. Quickly, Daniel Ricciardo improves the Englishman’s time with 1:36.877, while Esteban Ocon, motivated by his podium in Sakhir, follows the momentum of his teammate and closely trails him with a 3rd time of 1:36.889, notably setting the record in the final sector.

At this stage, the first 14 cars are within the same second, with Sebastian Vettel completing this provisional ranking.

Shortly before the end of the session, Max Verstappen managed to improve his time to 1:36.251, just like Albon who, not without difficulties countering the slide, secured the 2nd time with 1:36.752.

The two Renaults, whose performances on Sunday will be crucial for the constructors’ standings, are positioning themselves well before the qualifiers with the 3rd and 4th fastest times.