Red Bull’s Max Verstappen registered the best time during the final practice session for the Mexican Grand Prix, with the leading trio of teams again closely matched.
As times tumbled on the Ultrasoft compound, Verstappen moved into top spot with a time of 1:17.223, via a lock-up into the stadium section, before improving to a 1:17.113, as drivers completed qualifying simulations during the one-hour session.
Lewis Hamilton, having put in a scruffy effort, amid complaints of power problems, moved into second position to emerge as Verstappen’s primary challenger, just 0.075s behind the Dutchman.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third overall, a mere 0.117s behind Verstappen, with Valtteri Bottas only 0.053s farther back in fourth position.
Daniel Ricciardo was 0.248s adrift of his team-mate in fifth place, as Kimi Räikkönen rounded out the top six, separated by 0.404s.
On home soil, Force India’s Sergio Pérez headed the midfield gaggle in seventh position, in front of team-mate Esteban Ocon.
Renault duo Carlos Sainz Jr. and Nico Hülkenberg completed the top 10, the pair having both locked up and run wide through the first sequence of corners early on.
Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley was 11th, ahead of Williams pair Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll, the youngster setting his best time via a wild moment through the final corner.
Haas’ Kevin Magnussen recovered from Friday illness to finish 14th, ahead of Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson, McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Romain Grosjean, who added much needed mileage after his FP2 problems.
Pascal Wehrlein missed most of the session due to a suspected electrical issue and placed 18th, ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne, while Pierre Gasly suffered another setback.
A puff of smoke emerged from Gasly’s Toro Rosso during the early stages and he was forced to abandon his STR12, after an attempt to re-start the car proved fruitless.
It means that Gasly, who has a 15-place engine-related penalty, heads into qualifying having completed just 12 laps across the three practice sessions.
