FP3: Rosberg quickest as Hamilton crashes

Editor

Mercedes claimed yet another practice 1-2 at Suzuka on a morning where Lewis Hamilton’s crash was overshadowed by Sebastian Vettel’s announcement.

Red Bull confirmed on Saturday morning that Vettel would be leaving at the end of this season but did not say where he would be going.

As such, all the attention turned to the German, who unfortunately had a problematic final Suzuka practice with Red Bull Racing.

He managed just six laps on Saturday morning as “an issue with the k-clipping” proved to be “bigger than that” and he was once again sidelined with an engine issue.

Meanwhile, at the front it looked set to be another Mercedes 1-2 as Nico Rosberg went quickest on the medium tyres with a 1:33.228 and Hamilton, who was on top on Friday, started his flying lap.

The Championship leader, though, got it all wrong.

Running too wide into the first corner, he touched the kerb, went over the gravel and tagged the barrier damaging the front left of his W05.

However, such is Mercedes’ advantage that he still finished second, 0.982s behind his team-mate.

Fernando Alonso, who is linked in with all the Vettel reports, was third quickest but a massive 1.211s off the pace.

He edged the two Williams of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas while Daniel Ricciardo brought his RB10 home in sixth place.

Kevin Magnussen and Jean-Eric Vergne, who managed just eight lap before an issue with his STR forced him back into the garage, completed the top eight.

Times
01 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:33.228 14 laps
02 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:34.210 +0.982 10 laps
03 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:34.439 +1.211 12 laps
04 Felipe Massa Williams 1:34.564 +1.336 12 laps
05 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:35.061 +1.833 16 laps
06 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:35.086 +1.858 13 laps
07 Kevin Magnussen McLaren 1:35.251 +2.023 16 laps
08 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1:35.494 +2.266 8 laps
09 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:35.538 +2.310 17 laps
10 Jenson Button McLaren 1:35.549 +2.321 16 laps
11 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1:35.732 +2.504 15 laps
12 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:35.995 +2.767 5 laps
13 Sergio Perez Force India 1:36.365 +3.137 8 laps
14 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 1:36.407 +3.179 22 laps
15 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:36.460 +3.232 6 laps
16 Romain Grosjean Lotus 1:36.558 +3.330 9 laps
17 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1:36.617 +3.389 12 laps
18 Adrian Sutil Sauber 1:36.626 +3.398 20 laps
19 Marcus Ericsson Caterham 1:37.367 +4.139 12 laps
20 Max Chilton Marussia 1:37.883 +4.655 17 laps
21 Jules Bianchi Marussia 1:38.102 +4.874 15 laps
22 Kamui Kobayashi Caterham 1:38.784 +5.556 2 laps