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Formula 1 FP3 summary: Ferrari continue to dominate in Bahrain

Formula 1 FP3 summary: Ferrari continue to dominate in Bahrain

30-03-2019 12:49 Last update: 13:06
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Matt Gretton

Editor-in-Chief

Charles Leclerc finished at the top of the timesheets with Sebastian Vettel in P2 to continue Ferrari's dominant start to the weekend in Bahrain. Like Mercedes did in Australia, Ferrari has topped the timesheets in all three practice sessions. Mercedes moved back up towards the top in the final stages, Valtteri Bottas lifted himself into P4, while Hamilton finished in P3.

In a session with different conditions to qualifying later on Saturday, Ferrari went out early on used soft tyres, while Mercedes and Red Bull sat in the garage a little longer.

Mercedes held the top positions in the middle of the session, but when Ferrari turned the wick up on fresh tyres, they smashed their rivals away.Nico Hulkenberg continued his fine form in practice this weekend. He found himself in P3 for some time during the middle of the session and finished in P4.

Red Bull again was down on time in single lap pace. Verstappen finished in P8 after holding 1st place for a short amount of time. 

Mixed results for a lot of teams

Toro Rosso was miles apart, Daniil Kvyat held the lead for about 10 seconds before Valtteri Bottas knocked him off, but Alex Albon was bringing up the rear in P17. These split results continue throughout the grid, while Hulkenberg was on fire, his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo continued his struggles. Ricciardo finished in P16. 

Trouble for Mercedes?

Lewis Hamilton was fighting with the car, and a lot of heads were shacking on the pit wall. Perhaps the balance wasn't quite right, but when the Ferrari cars got themselves in gear, his time at the top was smashed. Towards the end, Mercedes were only just inside the top 10 but they pulled it out the bag in the final stages. 

McLaren are on for good results 

McLaren was sitting comfortably in P8 and P9, but on qualifying sims, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz moved up to P3 and P5 inside the final 10 minutes. They've got a lot of things right so far this weekend. Sainz finished in P9 and Norris in P7.Also in the midfield, Romain Grosjean was fast, lifting himself into 3rd at the back end of the session. He finished best of the rest in P5.