Max Verstappen topped the final practice session at Formula 1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as Guanyu Zhou’s qualifying participation is in doubt following a crash.
Verstappen fronted the timesheets for the second time this weekend, setting a best time of 1:28.412s to open up a two-tenth gap over Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari.
The Dutchman had been stationed seven-tenths ahead of the rest when Zhou Guanyu lost control of his Sauber and slammed sideways into the barrier at Turn 8.
The session resumed with five minutes remaining and witnessed the drivers rush out to complete one last qualifying simulation run on the Soft compound tyre.
Verstappen was unable to improve on his previous run but was not usurped. Leclerc got closest, while Sergio Perez was 0.494s adrift of his Red Bull team-mate.
Ferrari’s prospects this weekend will depend on Leclerc following the news that Carlos Sainz has been ruled out of the Jeddah weekend with an appendicitis diagnosis.
Ferrari Junior Oliver Bearman has stepped in to replace the Spaniard and he is set to become the third youngest driver in F1 history to compete in a grand prix.
Bearman impressed from the outset and was told he was on the pace in the high-speed sections. The Briton ended 0.894s behind Verstappen in 10th in the order.
Lando Norris had been on course to challenge Verstappen’s benchmark with a purple first sector until he aborted the run but later improved to complete the top five.
The two Aston Martin drivers split the McLarens, with Fernando Alonso, who set the pace in the representative twilight FP2 session, in sixth ahead of Lance Stroll.
George Russell elevated his Mercedes to fourth; however, Lewis Hamilton, who trialled a more loaded rear wing, languished ninth, three-tenths behind his team-mate.
Kevin Magnussen had risen as high as fourth for Haas but dropped to 11th with Nico Hulkenberg 15th in the sister car as neither driver could improve on their last run.
Alpine avoided propping up the rear with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon 12th and 14th respectively. Yuki Tsunoda in the first of the RB cars sandwiched those two.
Daniel Ricciardo was 16th, followed by Alex Albon and the two Sauber drivers. Valtteri Bottas was 1.6s off the ultimate pace, seven-tenths clear of the sidelined Zhou.
The second Williams of Logan Sargeant failed to post a time as his running came to an abrupt end in the nascent stages when he clipped the inside barrier at Turn 22.
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