formula 1
Verstappen fastest again – Hamilton in the gang
Dutchman Max Verstappen was again fastest in free practice. photo
© Luca Bruno/AP/dpa
Max Verstappen also set the fastest lap before battling for pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen also set the fastest lap before battling for pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The two-time Formula 1 World Champion relegated his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez to second place on the circuit, which is only 3.337 kilometers long. Verstappen, who was already fastest on Friday, was only 73 thousandths of a second ahead of his Mexican rival, who is also in second place behind the Dutchman in the World Championship rankings.
Third in the 60-minute session before qualifying (4 p.m. / Sky) was Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin ahead of Carlos Sainz from Spain. His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc did not get past seventh place. The Monegasque complained at times about his Ferrari, he was never able to win his home race despite the pole in the last two editions.
Hamilton provides red flags
Almost ten minutes before the end, Nico Hülkenberg’s (13th) Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen was asked by the command post to stop his car immediately. The Dane obeyed, the car was pushed off the track by marshals. A little later, Lewis Hamilton caused red flags. He drove into the crash barriers in his heavily overhauled Mercedes, and his car was transported away with a crane high above the track.
The seven-time world champion is fourth in the standings, with Verstappen leading the way in front of Perez and Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard finished 14th in the Aston Martin in FP3.