Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 07, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
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Formula 1 News: Verstappen tops FP3 for Saudi Arabian GP

Posted by AR1 staff

Three-time World Driving Champion Max Verstappen turned a lap of 1m28.412s to top final practice for the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Verstappen turned his fast lap on the Pirelli soft red tires before the session was red-flagged with 20 minutes to go when Guanyu Zhou stuffed his Sauber into the barriers.

Zhou Crashes

Related Article: Formula 1 News: Verstappen tops FP1 for Saudi Arabian GP

The went green again with 5 minutes left to run and there was a mad rush for the drivers that had not tried the soft Pirelli to set a fast time

Charles Leclerc was 2nd quick for Ferrari, 0.196s behind Verstappen.

Sergio Perez was 3rd fastest in the 2nd Red Bull Honda, 0.494s behind his teammate Verstappen.

George Russell was 4th for Mercedes, 0.552s behind while Lando Norris rounded out the top-5 for McLaren, 0.559s behind.

For Ollie Bearman, that session might have settled some nerves but he’s still got the small matter of qualifying to get through, complete with traffic chaos, unsighted corners and a car that comes alive when all the fuel is taken out.

Problems for Kick Sauber though, who have that rebuild to complete before qualifying if they want Zhou back out there and Williams are also completing some repairs to Sargeant’s car.

2024 Saudi Arabian GP Practice 3 Results

POS NO DRIVER CAR TIME GAP LAPS
1 1 Max Verstappen RED BULL RACING HONDA 1:28.412 +0.000s 12
2 16 Charles Leclerc FERRARI 1:28.608 +0.196s 15
3 11 Sergio Perez RED BULL RACING HONDA 1:28.906 +0.494s 12
4 63 George Russell MERCEDES 1:28.964 +0.552s 16
5 4 Lando Norris MCLAREN MERCEDES 1:28.971 +0.559s 10
6 14 Fernando Alonso ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 1:29.038 +0.626s 13
7 18 Lance Stroll ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 1:29.127 +0.715s 13
8 81 Oscar Piastri MCLAREN MERCEDES 1:29.213 +0.801s 10
9 44 Lewis Hamilton MERCEDES 1:29.268 +0.856s 18
10 38 Oliver Bearman FERRARI 1:29.306 +0.894s 21
11 20 Kevin Magnussen HAAS FERRARI 1:29.485 +1.073s 11
12 10 Pierre Gasly ALPINE RENAULT 1:29.546 +1.134s 12
13 22 Yuki Tsunoda RB HONDA 1:29.572 +1.160s 17
14 31 Esteban Ocon ALPINE RENAULT 1:29.575 +1.163s 12
15 27 Nico Hulkenberg HAAS FERRARI 1:29.675 +1.263s 10
16 3 Daniel Ricciardo RB HONDA 1:29.740 +1.328s 14
17 23 Alexander Albon WILLIAMS MERCEDES 1:29.808 +1.396s 12
18 77 Valtteri Bottas KICK SAUBER FERRARI 1:30.083 +1.671s 20
19 24 Zhou Guanyu KICK SAUBER FERRARI 1:30.739 +2.327s 12
20 2 Logan Sargeant WILLIAMS MERCEDES No Time 2