Free Practice 3 GP: Piquet shines on Renault’s territory

Renault’s Nelson Piquet was the fastest during the final practice session before the qualifying session for the French Grand Prix.

With many difficulties early in the season, the Brazilian recruit dominated a large part of the session.

Mark Webber is second for Red Bull Racing. Then, Sebastian Vettel maintains his level of performance to secure third place with his Toro Rosso.

As usual, the title contenders are holding back for this third practice session. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) was the best of his team with a fifth place, behind Nico Rosberg’s Williams.

A large number of drivers took turns at the top spot during the first part of the session, including the two Toro Rosso drivers, before Piquet asserted his authority.

Webber was the first to try the soft tires, and finished less than 0.009 seconds behind Piquet, who then failed to improve his time when he tried this type of tires shortly after.

Behind the top 5, we find Jarno Trulli and his Toyota in 6th position, Hamilton is seventh after a mistake in the Imola chicane.

Sébastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso), Felipe Massa (Ferrari), and David Coulthard (Red Bull) close this top 10.

Fernando Alonso, Heikki Kovalainen, and the BMW drivers, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld, seemed to focus on the fuel loads to be carried. They finished 12th, 13th, 14th, and 18th, respectively.