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Saudi Arabia Grand Prix News

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Saudi Arabian GP: Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton in Practice Three ahead of big qualifying battle

The plot thickens in the F1 title race as Max Verstappen and Red Bull turn the tables on Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes ahead of qualifying; Hamilton has two near-misses with other cars; Watch the penultimate shootout of the season live on Sky Sports F1 at 5pm

By Matt Morlidge

Last Updated: 04/12/21 8:58pm

A slow-moving Lewis Hamilton had two close calls in a matter of moments during FP3 in Jeddah

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Sky Sports

A slow-moving Lewis Hamilton had two close calls in a matter of moments during FP3 in Jeddah
A slow-moving Lewis Hamilton had two close calls in a matter of moments during FP3 in Jeddah

Max Verstappen hit the front for the first time this weekend in final practice for the Saudi Arabian GP, with the championship leader outpacing Lewis Hamilton to stamp his authority ahead of a crucial penultimate qualifying of the season in Jeddah.

All signs heading into the third practice session around the fast yet narrow street track were pointing towards a Hamilton and Mercedes advantage - but Verstappen found form on the soft tyre at an ideal time.

  • Saudi Arabian GP: Sky F1 schedule for penultimate round
  • Live updates from Jeddah ahead of qualifying

The Dutchman was two tenths of a second quicker than Hamilton, the driver he leads by eight points in the standings and whose title hopes he can end for good this weekend if results go his way.

But the final practice timesheets were also confusing and potentially unrepresentative, as Verstappen was one of few drivers to improve on the fastest tyre - while Hamilton's best time came, oddly, on the hardest compound of all.

"It definitely looks like Red Bull are more suited on the soft tyre than Mercedes," said Sky F1's Paul di Resta.

To add to that intrigue, which hints at an unpredictable qualifying live at 5pm on Sky Sports F1, Hamilton also had two near-misses with other cars around the high-speed and often blind twists and turns.

Hamilton first appeared to disrupt Pierre Gasly, before Nikita Mazepin came flying around a bend and very nearly collected Hamilton's Mercedes, who was on a slow lap.

"You need to tell me," said Hamilton. "I had no idea he was coming."

F1 race director Michael Masi said he would speak to Mercedes about the incident after the session.

A slow-moving Lewis Hamilton had two close calls in a matter of moments during FP3 in Jeddah

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Sky Sports

A slow-moving Lewis Hamilton had two close calls in a matter of moments during FP3 in Jeddah
A slow-moving Lewis Hamilton had two close calls in a matter of moments during FP3 in Jeddah

Verstappen and Hamilton were in a league of their own in final practice, although Sergio Perez did find pace for the first time this weekend to finish third, half a second down on his Red Bull team-mate.

Valtteri Bottas was only sixth in the other Mercedes, with both Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly ahead of him on the medium tyre.

Also See:

  • Sky F1's live Saturday schedule in Saudi
  • How Max can claim title this weekend

Charles Leclerc, whose big Friday crash ended second practice earlier, recovered in his repaired Ferrari to place seventh, ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon in the Alpine.

Lando Norris was the lead McLaren in 10th, with Daniel Ricciardo 14th and behind both Alfa Romeos.

Saudi Arabian GP Practice Three Timesheet

Driver Team Time
1) Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:28.100
2) Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.214
3) Sergio Perez Red Bull +0.529
4) Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri +0.541
5) Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.615
6) Valtteri Bottas Mercedes +0.919
7) Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1.001
8) Carlos Sainz Ferrari +1.049
9) Esteban Ocon Alpine +1.077
10) Lando Norris McLaren +1.200
11) Fernando Alonso Alpine +1.318
12) Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo +1.490
13) Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo +1.589
14) Daniel Ricciardo McLaren +1.617
15) Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.930
16) George Russell Williams +1.934
17) Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin +2.196
18) Nicholas Latifi Williams +2.266
19) Mick Schumacher Haas +2.833
20) Nikita Mazepin Haas +2.879

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