F1 GP Azerbaijan, free practice 3: Vettel precedes Hamilton

Sebastian Vettel is the fastest at the conclusion of the third and final Free Practice session of the Azerbaijan GP. The Ferrari driver preceded the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and the Red of teammate Raikkonen, 4 tenths behind the top. The two Red Bulls were more in the shadows today, with Verstappen fourth ahead of Bottas, Perez, Magnussen, Verstappen, Stroll, Ocon and Sirotkin, completing the first five virtual rows, while Ricciardo did not go beyond twelfth position. Both were "fooled" by the red flag, waved in the final stages of the session after Sirotkin's Williams hit the wall. Now all that remains is to wait for the qualifications, to find out who is really the fastest on the track in Baku: the appointment is at 15.00 pm, Italian time.

News – Clouds and temperatures lower than on Friday in Baku, with the asphalt reading 29°C, when the green lights up in the pit lane: Alonso, Leclerc and Vandoorne are the first to leave the pits. The first responses via radio from the pilots speak of a track that is still dirty. All riders are equipped with the ultrasoft compound, except for Hulkenberg and Sainz, both on the supersoft compound. The first time belongs to Daniel Ricciardo, 1:46.147. After him, in the following laps, Vettel, Raikkonen, and then the German again took the lead, with a time of 1:43.176. About twenty minutes from the start, Ferrari is in the lead with its two standard-bearers, ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton, Stroll, Bottas, Magnussen, Alonso, Ricciardo and Gasly. Meanwhile in the Ferrari garage the mechanics tested various aerodynamic solutions on Kimi's SF71H, on which the rear wing was replaced.

Perez moved into sixth place and then third, 7 tenths from the top, while Sirotkin took ninth place. With the new ultrasoft compound Vettel raises the level of the competition and sets a new best time, 1:43.176. Bottas closes behind him, followed by Hamilton. So it's Raikkonen who keeps Vettel company, snatching the place from his Mercedes compatriot, while the German improves further: 1:43.091. Fifteen minutes from the end, Raikkonen, Bottas, Hamilton, Perez, Verstappen, Stroll, Ocon, Magnussen and Sirotkin are chasing him. Hamilton overtakes Bottas, while the two Red Bulls, absent for a while, are ready to enter the track. The red flag, however, ruins the plans of the "drinkers": Sirotkin's Williams ends up against the barriers and the activity on the track is suspended, although the clock continues to advance.

At the restart, just a few minutes from the checkered flag, Verstappen managed to snatch the fourth fastest time, while Ricciardo aborted his lap and returned to the pits. The session ends with Vettel ahead of Hamilton and Raikkonen.

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