Yas Marina (United Arab Emirates) (AFP)

Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the fastest time in the 3rd free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 17th and final round of the Formula 1 World Championship, Saturday at the Yas Marina circuit (5.554 km).

In 1 min 36 sec 251/1000, the fastest of free practice 1 Friday is ahead of his Thai teammate Alexander Albon by 501/1000, the Renault of Australian Daniel Ricciardo and French Esteban Ocon by 626 and 648/1000 and the McLaren British Lando Norris from 743/1000.

Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), back on track after missing a GP last week due to Covid-19, is 6th in the last practice session of the season, 761/1000 behind Verstappen.

His Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas, the fastest in free practice 2, is 9th at 834/1000, but neither Mercedes has unleashed their full potential.

The middle of the table is still tight with half a second separating Ricciardo, 3rd, from the 13th, the French Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri).

This session, held at the start of the afternoon, is also not representative of the conditions of qualifying and the race, scheduled for twilight on Saturday and Sunday (5 p.m. local / 2 p.m. French).

At Haas, finally, the Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi, 24, is playing his 2nd GP to replace Frenchman Romain Grosjean, injured in an accident almost 2 weeks ago.

.

3rd free practice session:

Max Verstappen (NED / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 36.251 (16 laps)

Alexander Albon (THA / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 36.752 (15)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Renault) 1: 36.877 (12)

Esteban Ocon (FRA / Renault) 1: 36.899 (15)

Lando Norris (GBR / McLaren-Renault) 1: 36.994 (13)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR / Mercedes) 1: 37.012 (16)

Lance Stroll (CAN / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 37.030 (16)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP / McLaren-Renault) 1: 37.068 (12)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN / Mercedes) 1: 37.085 (16)

Sergio Pérez (MEX / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 37.227 (13)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS / AlphaTauri-Honda) 1: 37.266 (17)

Charles Leclerc (MON / Ferrari) 1: 37.270 (14)

Pierre Gasly (FRA / AlphaTauri-Honda) 1: 37.371 (18)

Sebastian Vettel (GER / Ferrari) 1: 37.728 (16)

George Russell (GBR / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 37.886 (16)

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 37.900 (16)

Kimi Räikkönen (FIN / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 38.269 (16)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 38.457 (14)

Nicholas Latifi (CAN / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 38.765 (17)

Pietro Fittipaldi (BRA / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 39.159 (15)

./bds/pel/ole

© 2020 AFP