Manama (Bahrain): Max Verstappen topped the times for Red Bull in Saturday’s hot, windswept and closely-contested final free practice ahead of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix. In a session that was halted briefly after Romain Grosjean crashed in his Haas-Ferrari car, the 19-year-old clocked a best lap in one minute and 32.194 to finish one-tenth of a second clear of rival Hamilton.
Sebastian Vettel, who shares the lead in this year’s embryonic drivers’ championship with Hamilton, was third fastest for Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen was fifth in the second Ferrari ahead of Felipe Massa of Williams, Daniel Riccirdo in the second Red Bull and Nico Hulkenberg of Renault. Carlos Sainz was ninth.
The top eight cars were separated by less than eight-tenths of a second in conditions that are not expected to be repeated in qualifying scheduled on Saturday. In marginally cooler conditions with an air temperature of 35 degrees Celsius and track of 39, the session began slowly. After early installation laps, Esteban Ocon of Force India was quickest before Carlos Sainz planted his Red Bull on top of the times. By the half-hour mark, both Ferrari and Mercedes were doing little bar check out their cars with slow uncompetitive laps as a strong wind arrived.
