Japan – Free Practice 3: Bottas sets the fastest time and makes a mistake
The two Mercedes set the fastest times in a session marked by two red flags due to off-track excursions by Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas. The latter still set the benchmark time of the morning.
The practice sessions of this Japanese Grand Prix have been chaotic. The rain disrupted FP2 yesterday, depriving the drivers of track time.
This morning, the rain spares the 22 drivers who quickly take to the track. The two Mercedes immediately set the benchmarks, with Valtteri Bottas at 1:29.055 just ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton at 1:29.069. It’s very close between the two men, especially since behind them, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo slightly make mistakes.
But it’s Bottas who will cause the first red flag by grazing the barrier just before 130 R. The Finn goes a bit wide on the exit of the turn and stays flat on the accelerator before hitting the barrier with the right side of his car, causing a rear tire puncture and the loss of many carbon elements.
After setting the fastest time in FP3, @ValtteriBottas had what could be a costly slip #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #F1 pic.twitter.com/8RqAjYy2yx
— Formula 1 (@F1) 7 octobre 2017
The track is being cleaned by the marshals, but it won’t remain clear for long. Kimi Räikkönen also loses control of his Ferrari just before the bridge and crashes his car into the protective tires. The Finn was overly optimistic and lost his car by arriving much too fast at the entry of turn 9.
Oh Kimi 🙈 #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #F1 pic.twitter.com/3CAfuGHZoa
— Formula 1 (@F1) 7 octobre 2017
The times will not improve in the last 20 minutes, with drivers focusing more on long runs in preparation for Sunday’s race.
The complete classification of FP3:
FP3 INITIAL CLASSIFICATION: @MercedesAMGF1 have the edge… #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #F1 pic.twitter.com/21s5blTDjl
— Formula 1 (@F1) 7 octobre 2017
