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Brazilian GP P3: Lewis Hamilton fastest from Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel

World champion pips team-mate by 0.123s with Vettel third fastest; Rosberg chasing fifth straight pole in qualifying

Lewis Hamilton
Image: Lewis Hamilton: Fastest in final practice

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in final practice for the Brazilian GP at Interlagos ahead of Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel.

The world champion lapped the 4.309km circuit in a time of 1:12.070s to go 0.123s faster than his team-mate, setting up the prospect of a nip-and-tuck battle in Saturday's later qualifying session, when Hamilton will hope to end Rosberg's run of four straight poles.

It wasn't all plain sailing for Hamilton during the hour, though. Making his first appearance on track about 20 minutes in, he stopped on track complaining of "lost gears".

That problem was soon rectified and Hamilton later had a spin at Turn 11. But he then set his time with about 10 minutes to go - Rosberg having earlier been quicker on the prime medium tyre.  

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Despite a gear issue and a trip off-track, Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in FP3 at the Brazilian GP.

Vettel said he had been disappointed by Ferrari's pace on Friday, when he admitted grip was a problem in the hot, muggy conditions.

The sun returned again on Saturday morning. But although heavy overnight rain might, in theory, have reduced grip again, times were faster as teams worked on qualifying set-ups with Vettel about 0.7s slower than Hamilton.

Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest with Valtteri Bottas next up ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, Romain Grosjean, Sergio Perez, Pastor Maldonado while Max Verstappen completed the top 10.

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Red Bull pair Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat dropped down to 11th and 13th respectively, with Fernando Alonso's McLaren 14th and Jenson Button 18th.

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Practice Three times:

1. L Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:12.070

2. N Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:12.193

3. S Vettel, Ferrari, 1:12.760

4. K Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:13.096

5. V Bottas, Williams, 1:13.335

6. N Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:13.345

7. R Grosjean, Lotus, 1:13.437

8. S Perez, Force India, 1:13.506

9. P Maldonado, Lotus, 1:13.534

10. M Verstappen, Toro Rosso, 1:13.548

11. D Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:13.572

12. F Massa, Williams, 1:13.742

13. D Kvyat, Red Bull, 1:13.829

14. F Alonso, McLaren, 1:13.850

15. C Sainz, Toro Rosso, 1:13.959

16. M Ericsson, Sauber, 1:14.185

17. F Nasr, Sauber, 1:14.288

18. J Button, McLaren, 1:14.445

19. W Stevens, Manor, 1:16.671

20. A Rossi, Manor, 1:17.059

Watch the Brazilian GP live on Sky Sports F1. Race-show coverage begins at 2.30pm on Sunday with lights out at 4pm. Watch the Brazilian GP for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.

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