Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the fastest time in the third free practice session of the Miami Grand Prix, fifth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Saturday at the Miami International Autodrome (5.412 km) in Miami Gardens .
The reigning double world champion, already the fastest on Friday, beat the Ferrari of Monegasque Charles Leclerc and his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez respectively by 406 and 515/1000th, while the Spaniard Carlos Sainz took fourth place for the Scuderia.
Once is not custom, the Alpines, who remain on a disastrous weekend in Azerbaijan, were at the party since the French Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly won the fifth and sixth best times.
The Finn Valtteri Bottas created the surprise by setting the seventh fastest time at the wheel of his Alfa-Romeo, ahead of two other cars rather accustomed to the back of the pack, the Haas of the German Nico Hülkenberg and the Williams of the Thai Alex Albon.
Mercedes, already struggling on Friday during the second free practice session, still performed disappointingly as Britons George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are in 10th and 13th place.
Another surprise, the Aston Martins, which made a superb start to the championship, were also very much behind since they did not appear in the Top 10, the Spaniard Fernando Alonso being 12th and the Canadian Lance Stroll 14th.
The McLarens also disappointed and only appear at the very end of the classification with the Australian rookie Oscar Piastri 18th and the Briton Lando Norris 19th, just behind the local of the stage, the American Logan Sargeant (Williams).
The teams now have two hours to complete the final adjustments before qualifying, which will begin at 4 p.m. local time (10 p.m. French).
The Red Bulls, who had to give up pole position for the first time this season to Ferrari last weekend in Baku, are the favorites to clinch first place on the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
