Montmeló (Spain) (AFP)

Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) set the best time in the 3rd free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, 6th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Saturday at the Barcelona-Catalonia circuit (4.655 km) at Montmelo.

With a time of 1 min 17 sec 22/1000, slower than the day before, the leader of the world championship is ahead of his Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas by 151/1000.

Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 3rd, approaches 515/1000 before qualifying scheduled at 3:00 p.m. local and French.

The session ended a few seconds before the scheduled time following an accident by Frenchman Esteban Ocon. He had to avoid the Dane Kevin Magnussen, who was decelerating in front of him at the exit of a bend, and his Renault hit the safety barriers on several occasions. The 23-year-old pilot escaped unscathed.

The incident was investigated by the race marshals, who felt that no sanctions were necessary. "The two pilots and the marshals agreed that it was an unfortunate accident and that neither of the two pilots was to blame", they explain.

. 3rd free practice session:

Lewis Hamilton (GBR / Mercedes) 1: 17.222 (12 laps)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN / Mercedes) 1: 17.373 (13)

Max Verstappen (NED / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 17.737 (10)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP / McLaren-Renault) 1: 18.046 (18)

Sergio Pérez (MEX / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 18.096 (16)

Charles Leclerc (MON / Ferrari) 1: 18.193 (15)

Pierre Gasly (FRA / AlphaTauri-Honda) 1: 18.211 (13)

Lance Stroll (CAN / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 18.309 (16)

Alexander Albon (THA / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 18.371 (13)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Renault) 1: 18.384 (12)

Esteban Ocon (FRA / Renault) 1: 18.602 (18)

Sebastian Vettel (GER / Ferrari) 1: 18.707 (15)

Romain Grosjean (FRA / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 18.710 (14)

Kimi Räikkönen (FIN / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 18.721 (11)

Lando Norris (GBR / McLaren-Renault) 1: 18.803 (23)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS / AlphaTauri-Honda) 1: 18.852 (15)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 18.940 (15)

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 19.175 (13)

George Russell (GBR / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 19.297 (16)

Nicholas Latifi (CAN / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 19.764 (16)

./bds/pel/fbx

© 2020 AFP