British GP, Free Practice 3: Hamilton begins the climb

Lewis Hamilton begins to show off his claws and ends the third Free Practice session of the Silverstone Grand Prix in command, with a best time of 1:32.917, leaving behind the Mercedes of teammate Rosberg, which was again crippled mid-session from a gearbox problem which was then resolved.
Third and fourth place for the two Reds, with Kimi still ahead of Vettel and the two Toro Rossos following. Another couple completes the top ten, that of Willams, and then Kvyat and Maldonado. The other Red Bull, Ricciardo's, was twelfth, struggling with the balance of the RB11 which was still unsatisfactory. McLaren back, with Button 16th and Alonso 18th.

News – Free Practice 3 of the British Grand Prix begins under cloudy skies but without the threat of rain. Higher temperatures than Friday but less hot asphalt, due to the rain that fell during the night.
Grosjean, Merhi and Maldonado are the first to kiss the track. Hamilton follows the trio shortly after and then it's up to the rest of the grid. All the riders are on hard compounds. The first time was given by Lotus, 1:37.395, but then it was the turn of Kimi's Ferrari, with 1:36.718. The minutes passed and Grosjean, Alonso and then Massa alternated in the lead again, followed immediately by Bottas.
After the first 15 minutes Vettel takes the lead with a time of 1:34.932, before the "ballet" between the two Mercedes begins.

Just before mid-session Rosberg took the lead in 1:34.436 but Hamilton immediately overtook his teammate Nico by 37 thousandths. Behind the Mercedes pair, Kvyat, Vettel, Ricciardo, Bottas, Sainz, Verstappen, Massa and Perez. So it's Nico who returns to the front in 1:33.731.
The exchange at the top continues with Hamilton responding to Rosberg in 1:33.333, while Kimi is third ahead of Kvyat, Vettel and Ricciardo.
Meanwhile Button is the only one to have switched to the medium compound and shortly after his teammate Alonso follows him.

With twenty minutes to go, Hamilton doesn't let go and Rosberg, Kimi, Kvyat, Vettel, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Sainz and Maldonado chase him behind. Massa dropped to twelfth.

After the pit break we return to the track for the Qualifying simulation. White compound for everyone except Alonso. Hamilton improves and remains in front, in 1:32.917. Kimi moved in behind him but when the checkered flag waved, Nico slipped in front of the red team in 1:33.469. The top ten is thus completed with Vettel, Verstappen, Sainz, Massa, Bottas, Kvyat and Maldonado.

F1 GP Great Britain – Times and results Free Practice 3

Nina Stefanelli