Russia – Free Practice 3: Mercedes Dominates, Ferrari Overtaken
This final practice session is once again dominated by the Mercedes team, with Lewis Hamilton taking the opportunity to set a new track record. The Ferraris seem clearly off the pace, with Sebastian Vettel trailing six-tenths behind the Englishman.
A cloudy Russian sky welcomes the drivers for this final practice session.
This is crucial for the teams to fine-tune the settings of the cars. Ferrari must particularly prepare for the upcoming qualifying session as best as possible in order to try to surpass the Mercedes, otherwise victory would be difficult to achieve on Sunday.
Since the beginning of the weekend, this Sochi track has posed numerous challenges for the drivers, with several spin-outs observed and countless corner exits into the wide run-off areas.
About ten single-seaters take to the track for a few reconnaissance laps before returning to the pits.
🚥 GREEN LIGHT 🚥
FP3 is underway!
Live text commentary and timings> https://t.co/n7sXojqp4r #RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/7REnLcEZUc
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
The opportunity for the Russian to secure the best time at home, ahead of Alonso who quickly snatches the position.
With three drivers on the track, Lance Stroll allows himself to gauge the limits of his car on the slippery Sochi track.
After 10 minutes of the session, the Scuderia Ferrari men hit the track on hyper-soft tires, with the key task of finalizing the important settings before the crucial qualifications for Sebastian Vettel.
Directly, Kimi Räikkönen claims the best provisional times in 1:35:074 while Lewis Hamilton settles into his single-seater.
Kimi sets the early pace with a 1:35.074s 🚀 #RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/GICzkjgZR4
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
Suit up. 🕴️#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/bn1RICtKaC
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
Favorites this weekend, the Silver Arrows will nevertheless have to hold off Sebastian Vettel, who must give it his all to stay within reach of Lewis Hamilton in the championship.
Which is quickly confirmed as the German improves his teammate’s time by nearly half a second, setting the new lap reference at 1:33:859 and slowly approaching the track record of 1:33:194, achieved last year by himself.
Bottas then takes the lead by half a tenth while his teammate, who remained in third position for several laps, takes the lead in the standings with a time of 1:33.664.
👊 P1! It’s a 1:33.664s for Lewis, and it’s a Mercedes 1-2 early in #FP3 👏#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/bOC3yBHhy3
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 29 septembre 2018
Still a lot of widening around the turns by the drivers who take advantage of the very wide edges of the Russian track.
Max Verstappen, narrowly avoided by a Haas during a fast lap while the Dutch driver was cruising slowly, takes full advantage of the run-off areas.
Max is taking the scenic route out on track 👀#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/nEJMEKHoFB
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
Detected problems on Kimi Räikkönen’s Ferrari, with the car being dismantled by the Scuderia mechanics. The weekend looks challenging for the Italian team, which seems to be lagging in terms of performance, as stated the previous day by Sebastian Vettel.
After a long period without attempts at attacks, hostilities resume with Sebastian Vettel attempting an attack by improving his first sector but losing the trajectory on a corner and continuing onto the grass, thus abandoning his current attempt.
In this game, Lewis Hamilton sets his time, breaking the track record with 1:33:067, still equipped with hyper-soft tires.
Hamilton = 🚀
He sets a new track record of 1:33.067s ⏱️#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/OyimfveDIl
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
There are 10 minutes left in this session and Kimi Räikkönen reassures by getting back on track while his teammate completes a flying lap but remains six-tenths behind the Englishman.
Mercedes confirms that they are the clear favorites for the qualifications.
Last pit stop for Sebastian Vettel and a small scare for him and Ricciardo, going slowly at the side of the track.
The German, back in the pits for a final starting procedure, was stopped by the marshals as the track had been closed for a few seconds. A strange situation for the Ferrari driver, who is trying to bring his car back to his pit.
The session ends and highlights Mercedes’ dominance over Ferrari.
The hierarchical order seems to be applied with the two Ferraris followed by the Red Bulls.
Great performances by Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon, the best of the “others”.
FP3 CLASSIFICATION: @MercedesAMGF1 on top as we head in to qualifying! #RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ZjPCsXSwj4
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
