Mercedes' Nico Rosberg finished top of the timing sheets in a slightly interrupted Free Practice three ahead of the 2016 Singapore Grand Prix.
The session, run earlier in the day than Qualifying and the race, provides somewhat unrepresentative lap times due to the higher track temperature, but could indicate the closeness of Red Bull and Mercedes, with Max Verstappen right behind Rosberg on the timing screens.
It was an action-packed session which included a few spins, and a very unusual track invasion from some of the local wildlife.
The bizarre incident occurred around 15 minutes into the session, when a large lizard – thought to be a Monitor Lizard – walked across the track. Max Verstappen encountered the creature just after Turn 3, but the intrusive reptile made it safely to the other side of the track, and the precautionary yellow flags were brought back in.
Pascal Wehrlein was the first man to complete a lap, just prior to the lizard's appearance. However, his programme was halted immediately after he brought out the red flag, spinning into the barriers at Turn 11 just after the infamous Singapore Sling corner. Pieces of the Manor's rear wing fell onto the track, but were cleared shortly after, and the session resumed.
Initially it was thought that just the rear wing made contact with the Tecpro barrier, but Manor confirmed that both the floor and diffuser suffered damage too. Though the damage was worse than first though, the German returned to the track just before the session ended.
The track got quiet towards the end of the session, and with around 15 minutes to go the only cars on track were the Silver Arrows drivers, both shod in the purple Ultrasoft compound for a qualifying run.
Rosberg set what would ultimately go on to be the session-topping time with a 1:44.352, but Lewis Hamilton locked up at Turn 6, turning down the escape road before reversing out and returning to the pits with a heavily flat-spotted front-left tyre, and not improving on his earlier time set on the Supersoft tyre.
A late surge from Max Verstappen was enough to put the Dutchman second behind Rosberg, just 0.059 behind. Third was Kimi Raikkonen, whose longer run pace on the option compound has looked strong all weekend, although he was half a second behind Rosberg.
Fourth was Daniel Ricciardo, followed by four-time winner in Singapore Sebastian Vettel. Next were Nico Hulkenberg, Daniil Kvyat, Hamilton and Carlos Sainz, with Williams' Valtteri Bottas completing the top 10.
