EL3 in Austin: Vettel and Ferrari respond in the dry

While we were expecting another session on a wet track, FP3 took place in dry conditions. After a rainy day on Friday, the drivers were able to put on their slick tires for the first time during the Texas weekend.

Moribund in the rain, Team is more lively in the dry. Sebastian Vettel stops the clock with a time of 1'33''797 and is ahead of his teammate Kimi Räikkönen by 46 thousandths. Imperial yesterday, Lewis Hamilton was improving during his last attempt but the pilot Mercedes must ultimately settle for 3rd place, 73 thousandths behind his rival for the title. Valtteri Bottas is pushed back more than seven tenths on the second W09.

The Red Bull de Max Verstappen et Daniel Ricciardo are around the second and complete a Top 6 which finds an unsurprising look. Charles Leclerc finishes best of the others with his Sauber. The Monegasque precedes Sergio Pérez (Force India) and Carlos Sainz (Renault), while Romain Grosjean (Haas) completes the first half of the table for his team's home race. 

The Frenchman is ahead of his compatriots Esteban Ocon (Force India) and Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso), the latter having to start from the back of the grid after having received new engine elements from Honda. At the bottom of the ranking, we find the Williams et McLaren, as well as his teammate's Toro Rosso Brendon Hartley. 

If the weather remains dry for qualifying, can Ferrari hinder the progress of Hamilton and Mercedes? Whatever happens, Vettel will have to move back three places on the grid, the result of a penalty received on Friday evening for not having slowed down sufficiently under a red flag during Free Practice 1. 

Follow the battle for pole position live with commentary with our live text on CARhebdo.fr.

FP3 CLASSIFICATION: So far, so fast for @ScuderiaFerrari #USGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/hQlhBVueeL

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 20, 2018