Germany – Free Practice 3: Ferrari confirms, Verstappen lurking

A track completely washed by a violent overnight storm welcomes free practice 3. The conditions have significantly changed compared to Friday, with an ambient temperature of 25°C while the asphalt is at 34°C. The various settings will need to be fine-tuned to adapt the cars to the new conditions while anticipating the conditions for qualifying and the race.

The atmosphere is festive at Mercedes, celebrating the glorious past of the brand at this Grand Prix, having reached the milestone of 200 Grand Prix.

As soon as he enters the track, Valtteri Bottas goes wide at turn 2. The cold tires on the track, which has been washed of all rubber, seem to struggle at the start of the session. His English teammate takes to the track approaching the quarter-hour mark of the session, fitted with red-walled tires. He sets the provisional fastest time while the Ferraris also make their entrance on soft tires.

Sebastian Vettel improves Lewis Hamilton’s time before Leclerc improves in turn. In attack laps, Bottas and Hamilton are still behind the Ferraris. However, Vettel’s good lap remains to be validated, as the Ferrari driver rode over the green band following the first curb of the first corner. This has been declared off-limits under penalty of time cancellation, an important detail ahead of the upcoming qualifications.

As the session approaches its midpoint, the Red Bulls emerge from the garage. Pierre Gasly has a repaired car and will need to make up for his off-track excursion in FP2. Red Bull has installed a new gearbox in the Frenchman’s car, without incurring a penalty since the previous one had been used for more than six consecutive races. On his first attempt, Max Verstappen takes his Red Bull to the 5th fastest time, just behind a surprising Albon and less than a tenth off Lewis Hamilton.

Outside of the top teams, the Renaults offer a mixed performance with Nico Hülkenberg in form with a 7th fastest time while his Australian teammate remains in 17th provisional position.

Faced with the difficult realization that the Melbourne package is much more effective than the latest developments, Haas seems forced to accept a step back to get the right momentum going again. The Danish driver, like his teammate yesterday, approves the return to the Melbourne aerodynamic package. The performances also seem to support this choice of reverting. An upcoming reconsideration is expected regarding the engineers’ work over the past four months.

“The car is completely different,” says @KevinMagnussen

But …it’s in a good way 👍️ #F1 🇩🇪 #GermanGP pic.twitter.com/2aPCkZiGPY— Formula 1 (@F1) July 27, 2019

With 20 minutes left in the session, the Ferraris are still dominating with Charles Leclerc in great form. Max Verstappen is third while Pierre Gasly is struggling in 13th, half a second behind his young teammate.

The drivers are still testing the track limits at corner exits via the green strips, and lap cancellations are happening. The race authorities seem determined not to let anything slide on the wide corner exits. Another attempt for Charles Leclerc and a new improvement for the Monegasque. Bottas’s attack will not change anything; the Ferraris seem untouchable in terms of lap times on the German track, which is encouraging for this afternoon.

Attack lap for Pierre Gasly who takes the 4th time with 1:13.324 but again far behind Max Verstappen who dislodges Vettel from 2nd position with a time of 1:12.248. Lewis Hamilton then attempts an attack lap to reach the 4th time before it gets canceled, as the Englishman crossed the green band of the last corner.

Track limits are being enforced here, both Vettel and Hamilton have just had times deleted

You’ve got to watch out for this kerb: the cars can go onto it but no part must go *over* it, onto the green painted area 👀🚫#F1 🇩🇪 #GermanGP pic.twitter.com/32rjZbRXcc

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 27, 2019

Engine problem for Romain Grosjean’s Haas, who won’t be able to validate a good start to the weekend. Magnussen secures a superb time of 1:12:893, ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Renaults are struggling, Daniel Ricciardo barely precedes the Williams cars that close the standings.