The drivers have one more chance to prepare for qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix. During the third free practice session, the eyes will be mainly on Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who continue their title battle this weekend.
LIVEBLOG | Third free practice for the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix
Although Verstappen's first and third times on Friday put him ahead of Hamilton, who twice finished fourth, it was Mercedes that made the better impression. Red Bull Racing has worked hard in the last few hours to close the gap and increase Verstappen's chances of challenging for the win. Meanwhile, those in the Mercedes garage have worked to try and maintain their gap.
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'Mercedes will be heading with a spring in their step'
As overtaking is not easy in Qatar, all drivers know they need a good starting position. All drivers will therefore try to get a good feeling in the third free practice session ready for qualifying.
Strong weekend for AlphaTauri
Pierre Gasly again stood out during Friday's practice sessions. The Frenchman set two second-fastest times, beating out Lewis Hamilton and others. It could be an interesting weekend for the driver. Gasly is 13 points behind Daniel Ricciardo in the world championship, so an eighth-place might be in the offing.