F1 GP Australia, Free Practice 3: Vettel ahead of Raikkonen in a wet session

Sebastian Vettel set the best time at the end of the session, after switching to the ultrasoft tire in the final minutes. In fact, it was the wet asphalt and intermediate tires that characterized the Free 3, with few riders risking the slicks just moments from the checkered flag. So, behind Raikkonen, coming second, we find an unusual one Clean with Ericsson. Fourth half instead for Verstappen, who remained on the intermediates, ahead of Sainz, Ricciardo, Bottas - on ultrasoft but not long enough to improve his time - Hamilton, Vandoorne and Alonso, the latter in turn still on the green compound. The track did not dry quickly enough, leaving many drivers unable to test dry tires ahead of qualifying.

News –The rain soaked the Albert Park track for several hours, so when the traffic lights come on in the pit lane for the third Free Practice session, Grosjean's Haas launches first, equipped with full wet tyres. Hulkenberg follows soon after. The air temperature is 18°C, the asphalt temperature is 22°C. The first reports via radio speak of a track that is not too wet. Alonso immediately tries the intermediates. Stroll's Williams is stopped in the pits due to a transmission problem: replacing the gearbox on his single-seater. Hulkenberg also tries with the intermediates and is the first to stop the clock, with a time of 1:40.863. Then comes Verstappen, also immediately out with the green compound, and immediately on the ball with a time of 1:37.419.

Meanwhile, the track conditions are improving. Hamilton is about to launch but has an electronic problem which forces him to immediately stop the car to proceed with the steering wheel change. Vettel takes second place ahead of Ricciardo, while the drivers are switching to intermediate tyres, one after the other. At mid-session there were 14 timed drivers, with Verstappen in the lead in 1:35.548, followed by Ricciardo, Alonso, Vettel, Kimi, Gasly, Bottas, Vandoorne, Sainz and Hulkenberg.

Then, in order, Ricciardo, Alonso, and then the two Mercedes take the lead, with Bottas setting the pace ahead of Hamilton in 1:34.174. Fifteen minutes from the end, despite the track being almost dry, no one has yet risked the slicks. Bottas remains in the lead ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Ricciardo, Gasly, Hartley, Verstappen, Vettel, Sirotkin and Grosjean. Meanwhile, Stroll's Williams managed to join the group. The Canadian takes tenth place, while Vandoorne climbs to third place.

Verstappen took the lead in 1:31.680, again with the intermediate tyres, but then it was Vettel's turn to close the session in the lead, first on the ultrasoft tyres, thanks to a time of 1:26.067, just when the checkered flag waved. Raikkonen and Ericsson, who have also switched to slicks, follow the German from Ferrari.

F1 GP Australia – Times, results and laps Free Practice 3