Formula 1 drivers race around the track during practice at the 2016 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. JAY JANNER / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
It was attack of the Red Bulls in the third and final Formula One practice session Saturday morning for the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull ran the fastest lap of the entire weekend. The precocious 19-year-old Dutch driver posted a 1:36.766 — the only lap to crack 1:37.
His teammate Daniel Ricciardo was second fastest with a 1:37.032.
The Red Bull drivers said Friday their teams made improvements and that they expected to get more out of their cars Saturday. They delivered on that.
If there was such a thing as a podium finish for practice, Mercedes would not have been on it.
Almost remarkably, Mercedes mighty one-two punch of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were only fourth and fifth in P3.
Two important qualifiers for the Silver Arrows’ showing: Both drivers didn’t appear on the track until 15 minutes into the 1-hour session, and neither Mercedes man completed a hot lap on the quickest supersoft tire.
Kimi Raikkonen of Scudaria Ferrari took the third spot with a 1:37.284.
His teammate Sebastian Vettel might have had transmission issues, so he backed it off a bit and finished sixth.
Haas F1 Team, the U.S.-owned team, was well back in the pack again. Esteban Gutierrez was 16th and Romain Grosjean 17th.
A couple of guys had problems negotiating the track.
Pascal Wehrlein of Manor Racing veered off into the gravel on turn 19, got stuck and needed a crane to get him out.
Carlos Sainz of Scuedria Toro Rosso blew out two tires in separate incidents.
