After a closely contested Free Practice 2, Sebastian Vettel pulled clear of the pack and set the fastest time in FP3 for the Chinese Grand Prix.

Vettel’s quickest time of 1:33.018 put him 0.451s clear of team mate Kimi Raikkonen who was second fastest with a 1:33.469. Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes was 3rd fastest 0.743s off the pace.

Verstappen’s best time was a 1:33.969 nearly a second down on Vettel while Hamilton finished 5th fastest just over a second off the pace.

Magnussen was best of the rest for the session in 6th for Haas ahead of Sergio Perez in the Force India. Esteban Ocon was 8th fastest.

Carlos Sainz continues quietly with his good pace over the weekend by getting his car again into the top 10, this time 9th fasetest while Sergei Sirotkin in the Williams rounded out the top 10.

Conditions this morning in Shanghai were quite cold but drivers were keen to get out and start setting times. After the rains last night the rubber on the track was washed away and the drivers were presented with a clean track this morning. The low track temperatures certainly affected some of the drivers’ runs on the harder compound tyres.

Hamilton was struggling for grip on the soft tyres. He had a few wide moments at Turn 10 and a few lock-ups. It was capped by a spin at the exit of Turn 10. It was not just Hamilton, Bottas was struggling for pace as well and the Mercedes cars did not look comfortable in the cold conditions.

If a speed differential was giving Red Bull headaches, Ricciardo’s engine problem compounded things further. The Australian’s car had thick white smoke billowing out of the back. The Red Bull mechanics were lucky enough to get the car back and could start with the engine change before qualifying.

Ferrari look like they have the pace advantage over one lap if the times in FP3 are anything to go by, but Mercedes will come back and mount a challenge to the scarlet cars.

INITIAL CLASSIFICATION (END OF FP3)

The Prancing Horses lead the way in final practice#F1 #ChineseGP 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/2cIiSqTApb

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 14, 2018