Hungary – Free Practice 3: Vettel remains favorite, Hamilton struggles
Sebastian Vettel confirms he is the favorite for this weekend by placing his Ferrari at the top of the timesheets in free practice 3. In form, Valtteri Bottas seems the only one capable of challenging the German, while his teammate is unable to exploit his car. Now behind, the Red Bulls disappoint despite a track that, on paper, is ideal for the cars of the red bull.
After FP1 and FP2 revealed Vettel and Ricciardo as favorites, it’s time to decide with the FP3 session.
Comfortable on the winding Hungaroring circuit, the Red Bulls could play spoiler amid the two Top Teams, with notably the Mercedes, which seem a bit behind so far.
It is under a beautiful sun and a track heated to 53 C that this FP3 session begins.
Charles Leclerc opens the ball followed by the Red Bulls and the Haas of Romain Grosjean, the best “of the others” during FP2.
🚥 GREEN LIGHT 🚥
Final practice is underway! Charles Leclerc is the keenest to get on track
All your live timing needs can be found here> https://t.co/MddmLh2Nm7 #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/XuOcE2YElS
— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
First full lap completed in 8 minutes by Kimi Räikkönen with a very good time of 1:17.110. Let’s recall that yesterday’s fastest lap was achieved by the German Sebastian Vettel in 1:16.834.
The times improve as other drivers take to the track. Valtteri Bottas improves by less than a tenth, then Vettel sets a 1:16.343, which puts everyone in agreement by improving the current best time by more than six tenths.
Sebastian Vettel leaps to the top of the timing screens
His 1:16.343 is just shy of his existing track record from 2017 👀#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Vit0g1eJFM
— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
The German comes within less than a tenth of the track’s absolute record, which was set last year at 1:16.276.
Real slaloms are performed by the drivers on their flying laps, avoiding many slow-moving drivers at the exit of corners. Thus, both Romain Grosjean and Daniel Ricciardo are forced to rely on their reflexes to avoid accidents on this winding Hungarian track.
Grosjean gives a friendly* wave to fellow countryman Ocon 👋
*He may have been waving at him to move 👀#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/kRIE0qKVKV
— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
A close call for Ricciardo 😯
He encountered a slow Magnussen on the racing line#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/rTvRDvND9t
— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
After half an hour of the session, Sebastian Vettel still leads by nearly half a second, ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Räikkönen.
We’re at the half-way stage of final practice
And Sebastian Vettel has quite the margin over Bottas 😱#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/diTAqyUaX5
— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
Disappointment from Red Bull, who were expected here on a track suited to the design of the Austrian cars, which are very comfortable on the winding sections. Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are indeed more than a second behind the leader.
Twenty minutes before the end of the session, the Mercedes cars set off after fitting ultra-soft tires on their single-seaters.
Immediate effect as it’s Valtteri Bottas who sets the new fastest lap at 1:16.229, thus becoming the circuit’s lap record holder.
At the same moment, his teammate Lewis Hamilton goes into oversteer at a chicane and ends up in a spin, damaging his tires in the process.
Meanwhile, teammate Hamilton gets in a spin 😬
#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/sNgsjC4XuA— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
It is then a vengeful Sebastian Vettel who reappears, clocking a lap in response to the Finn at 1:16.170, reclaiming his previous lap record.
Vettel sends a warning shot and immediately beats Bottas’ time
His 1:16.170 is the new track record 🔥#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/XiwiLlh7BI
— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
Valtteri Bottas performs the same maneuver as Lewis Hamilton at the same chicane and also spins out. He gently taps the barrier on the left side of his car, but is nevertheless able to return calmly to his pit.
Bottas spins in exactly the same place as his teammate
He goes a little futher, and bumps against the barrier 😬#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Y15jnW0l7l
— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
If only the two Mercedes made mistakes, it seems the cause is the tire temperature, with attacks launched during a bad window of temperature for the front tires.
End of FP3 session at the Hungaroring circuit. Sebastian Vettel takes the fastest time of the session ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Räikkönen.
On the French side, Romain Grosjean is ninth, just under two seconds behind the six untouchables and the two Renaults. Pierre Gasly, comfortable with his Toro Rosso, finishes just behind his compatriot while Esteban Ocon ends up in 15th place, more than two seconds behind.
CLASSIFICATION (END OF FP3)
A close-fought final practice session between Ferrari and Mercedes
Next up… QUALIFYING 🙌#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/raR7Wk5PTx
— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 juillet 2018
