Red Bull's Max Verstappen quickest in rain-hit final practice for Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix
- Rob Fleming
- 3 June 2023
Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, claimed the top spot in a rain-affected final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1.
Max Verstappen finished fastest in a rain-hit final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Verstappen completed his speediest time in the early minutes before it started drizzling at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.
The double world champion finished two tenths clear of Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull, with Lewis Hamilton third, four tenths back.
Hamilton completed only eight laps as he elected not to run in the slippery conditions, despite the chance qualifying - which takes place at 4pm local time (3pm BST) - could also be disrupted by showers.
Behind Hamilton, Carlos Sainz finished fourth for Ferrari, one place ahead of his countryman Fernando Alonso in his Aston Martin. George Russell finished sixth for Mercedes.
The one-hour running was suspended for nine minutes after Logan Sargeant crashed out.
Sargeant lost control of his Williams through the high-speed final corner, before sliding into the gravel and grazing the wall.
Verstappen will head into qualifying having finished fastest in all three sessions as he bids to extend his 39-point championship lead over team-mate Perez.
FP3 times at Barcelona:
1 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull Racing 1:13.664
2 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull Racing +0.250
3 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes +0.408
4 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari +0.576
5 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin +0.600
6 George RUSSELL Mercedes +0.614
7 Charles LECLERC Ferrari +0.689
8 Valtteri BOTTAS Alfa Romeo +0.696
9 Yuki TSUNODA AlphaTauri +0.995
10 Lando NORRIS McLaren +1.017
11 Guanyu ZHOU Alfa Romeo +1.017
12 Nyck DE VRIES AlphaTauri +1.029
13 Lance STROLL Aston Martin +1.092
14 Nico HULKENBERG Haas F1 Team +1.324
15 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren +1.441
16 Esteban OCON Alpine+1.602
17 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas F1 Team +1.870
18 Pierre GASLY Alpine +2.177
19 Alexander ALBON Williams +2.187
20 Logan SARGEANT Williams +2.865
