EL3 – Qatar: Mercedes dominate before qualifying

As qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix approaches, these are the Mercedes who were the fastest during the third and final free practice session this Saturday. Author of the best time in EL2 on Friday, Valtteri Bottas doubled the lead during FP3 on the Losail track.

With a best lap completed in 1’22”310, the Finn managed to gain the upper hand over Lewis Hamilton, a leading time thanks to a time of 1’22”388. At the finish, the Englishman was only 78 thousandths behind. A good omen for the battle for pole this Saturday under the floodlights of the Qatari track. A battle in which we hope to be able to join Max Verstappen (Red Bull).

Beaten by the Silver Arrows this Saturday, the Dutchman did not have the opportunity to string together the fast laps during this 3rd free practice session, the fault of a capricious rear wing. After spending a lot of time on it on Friday, the Austrian team's mechanics worked again on Max Verstappen's DRS, the upper flap of which vibrated enormously when deploying the DRS on the long straight of the circuit. In the end, the Batavian was only able to complete 10 laps for a 3rd place, just over 3 tenths behind Valtteri Bottas.

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In very good form, as evidenced by his two 2nd places on Friday, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) once again showed great things. The Norman was the fastest of the “others” and ranked 4th with a lap in 1’22″835 (+0″525). Second Red Bull representative, Sergio Pérez completed the Top 5 of these EL3s just ahead Carlos Sainz (Ferrari).

Among the BluesAlpine, the smile is relevant just a stone's throw from the qualifications. In better shape than in Mexico or Brazil, the A521 tricolor allowed Fernando Alonso et Esteban Ocon to finish the session in 7th and 8th positions, eight tenths behind Valtteri Bottas. Performances with which the A arrow drivers hope to reach Q3 in Qatar. Behind, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Yuki tsunoda (AlphaTauri) entered the Top 10.

VIDEO - On board camera at Losail with Verstappen

More discreet than Friday, the McLaren were satisfied with the 11th and 13th times of the session with Daniel Ricciardo before Lando Norris. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) took the opportunity to insert himself between the two Woking machines a little more than 1″5 from the absolute reference of these final tests.

Note that Nikita mazepin (Haas) absent from EL2 for a chassis change was unable to complete a single lap in this session. Victim of a mechanical problem, the Russian had to stop his VF21 at the exit of the pit lane in the first seconds, causing a short interruption.

Qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix is ​​scheduled to begin at 15:00 p.m. They will be followed in live text on AUTOhebdo.