Singapore (AFP)

Monaco's Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) set the fastest time of the three free practice sessions of the Singapore Grand Prix, the 15th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Saturday at the Marina Bay circuit (5,063 km).

With a time of 1 min 38 sec 192/1000 in free practice 3, the winner of the last two GPs (his first successes in F1) was 207/1000 ahead of the Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), leader of the drivers classification for 63 points.

Hamilton also spun, inconsequential, during this session.

Germany's Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) is third at 619/1000, ahead of Finland's Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 4th at 693/1000, and the Red Bulls of Thai Alexander Albon and Dutchman Max Verstappen, 5th and 6th at 1 sec 066/1000 and 1 sec 174/1000 respectively.

Just before qualifying at 21:00 local (15:00 French / 13:00 GMT), Ferrari seem to succeed better than expected in the streets of the city-state.

The Mercedes and Red Bull, which benefit from more aerodynamic support, are indeed on paper more agile and therefore swifter in the slow corners of Singapore than the red cars, whose main asset is the engine power.

At the bottom of the top 10, it is like the day before the McLaren and the Renault which emerge.

These EL3 were shortened by a red flag following a clash of Mexican Sergio Perez (Racing Point) against the barriers. He damaged his car at the right rear wheel and left debris on the track.

The Russian Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) could not sign a time after an oil leak in his engine. Her team is making a change in powertrain that will not result in penalty, she said on Twitter.

. 3rd free practice session:

Charles Leclerc (MON / Ferrari) 1: 38.192 (15 laps)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR / Mercedes) 1: 38.399 (15)

Sebastian Vettel (GER / Ferrari) 1: 38.811 (13)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN / Mercedes) 1: 38.885 (16)

Alexander Albon (THA / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 39.258 (14)

Max Verstappen (NED / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 39.366 (9)

Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP / McLaren-Renault) 1: 39.507 (14)

Lando Norris (GBR / McLaren-Renault) 1: 39.709 (13)

Nico Hulkenberg (GER / Renault) 1: 40.118 (15)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Renault) 1: 40.153 (12)

Lance Stroll (CAN / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 40.209 (11)

Pierre Gasly (FRA / Toro Rosso-Honda) 1: 40.339 (15)

Kimi Raikkonen (FIN / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 40.953 (16)

Sergio Perez (MEX / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 40.985 (4)

George Russell (GBR / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 41.156 (13)

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 41.169 (14)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 41.494 (12)

Romain Grosjean (FRA / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 41.542 (12)

Robert Kubica (POL / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 41.954 (13)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS / Toro Rosso-Honda) untimed (3)

./bds/pel/bpa

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