Singapore – Free Practice 3: Rosberg maintains form just ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton only 8th

As in FP1, it was under a setting sky that the drivers began their third and final preparatory session, in weather conditions not quite representative of the continuation of hostilities. A slight mist, mainly caused by urban pollution particles, enveloped the Marina Bay circuit, all with a still stifling heat, exceeding thirty degrees in the air.

It’s cloudy, muggy and hot. #WeatherWatch #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/qsHdsOQ331

— Sahara Force India (@ForceIndiaF1) 17 septembre 2016

A crash for Wehrlein, a lizard for Verstappen!

The two Haas-Ferraris kicked off the session on soft tires, followed notably by Sebastian Vettel, who was already on ultra-soft tires. The first quarter of an hour was marked by Pascal Wehrlein, who caused the red flag just after 10 minutes into the session. A loss of the rear of his car led him to hit the barriers at the ninth turn, at the beginning of the second sector. Like Grosjean yesterday, his rear wing was seriously damaged. Fortunately, he was able to drive his Manor back to the pits on his own. But the damage was done: the marshals had to clean up the debris littering the track, so the session was paused for a few minutes.

WEHRLEIN: “I crashed…” 📻

MANOR: “Box now” 📻#FP3 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/T7DeBfny1l

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 septembre 2016

The time came for Max Verstappen to encounter a strange guest at the side of the road. On his in-lap, the Red Bull driver caught sight of… a giant lizard, crossing the track at the same spot. Apparently equipped with basic traffic rules, the animal took the time to look both ways before heading to the opposite wall, just to avoid ending up under the nose of a speeding car.

Things you don’t expect to hear in #FP3… 📻

Verstappen: “There’s a giant lizard on the track!” 😂🐊#SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/oxJ9csxPEs

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 septembre 2016

Even the Dutchman’s engineer wasn’t serious, telling his driver that he had just come face to face with Godzilla, nothing less!

The difficulties of Lewis Hamilton with braking, the Red Bull cars still in contact

After the drivers regained their composure, the restart was an opportunity to observe the first real benchmark times. This was successively improved by Verstappen, Räikkönen, and especially by Nico Rosberg. An initial lap time of 1:45.544 on super-soft tires on a track still far from ideal.

In this regard, many drivers struggled with the balance of their vehicle. Jenson Button notably complained of a “major understeer” to Tom Stallard, his race engineer.

On his side, Lewis Hamilton experienced his first hot moment by sliding into the escape road at the 7th turn, at the end of the DRS zone. The Brit executed a U-turn to resume his drive without damaging his Mercedes.

At the same time, Nico Hülkenberg was the last driver to set a time, shortly after the half-hour mark of the session.

The final phase of the session was in sight and the last rehearsals ahead of the Qualifications were multiplying, with a new set of ultra-soft tires for most of the competitors. Nico Rosberg had put on a fresh set of tires, allowing him to chase the clock.

As we entered the last 15 minutes, number 6 was the winning number with a time of 1:44.352. An astonishing parallel as, at the same moment, Lewis Hamilton once again took the escape route at the seventh turn, just after setting a purple in his first sector. Clearly, the reigning world champion encountered numerous braking issues in this final hour, hindering his quest for time.

Hamilton is off at Turn 7! And not for the first time in #FP3. Another big lock up… #SingaporeGP 🇸🇬 #F1NightRace 🌃 pic.twitter.com/crKmuU5B4U

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 septembre 2016

In the wake of a good Friday, Daniel Ricciardo but especially Max Verstappen was challenging Rosberg’s time. With a time of 1:44.411, Verstappen was the most serious threat at just 0.059″ away from the Mercedes.

SECTOR TIMES (50 MINS): Mercedes – Red Bull – Mercedes 🤔 #FP3 #SingaporeGP #F1NightRace pic.twitter.com/LJenVD5JiH

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 septembre 2016

On an increasingly fast track, the final minutes once again shook up the standings. Like yesterday, the two Toro Rosso cars made it into the top 10, with Daniil Kvyat this time ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr. However, the top was not altered, with Verstappen and Hamilton, for example, dedicating a final lap to preparing their starting procedure.

As in FP2, it is Nico Rosberg who takes the first place, with an interesting time but still behind that of Friday evening.

Reading the ranking is once again very interesting, with the top five separated by only 0.752″. Hamilton’s braking issues prevented him from once again placing in the top five. Further back, Romain Grosjean is still struggling with his American single-seater. Although he was the most productive in terms of laps completed (20, like Marcus Ericsson), the Frenchman cannot say the same about the quality of his settings. The spectators are well aware of his troubles, as he declared over the radio:

« I don’t know what you did but this is the worst car I’ve driven in a long time. »

Here is the complete ranking of this third and final practice session:

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION: Rosberg edges out Verstappen in #FP3 – just 0.059s in it! 👀 #SingaporeGP 🇸🇬 #F1NightRace pic.twitter.com/FBoJ4m6ARi

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 septembre 2016

Join us this afternoon around 4 PM for the full recap of the Qualifying session held in Singapore!