---
title: "Rosberg leads Verstappen in final Singapore practice"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/09/17/rosberg-leads-final-singapore-practice/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Issatt"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2016-09-17T11:23:00Z"
modified: "2016-09-17T11:23:00Z"
---

# Rosberg leads Verstappen in final Singapore practice

Nico Rosberg posted the fastest time in the final practice session at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The German, on the ultrasoft tyre, set a 1:44.352, pipping Max Verstappen by five hundredths of a second as the battle for pole shapes up between Mercedes and Red Bull.

The Dutchman’s teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, was fourth, almost half a second down on the Mercedes. The Australian did lose time in the final sector, however, as he came up behind a Manor.

One of the big stories heading into the session was whether Lewis Hamilton would look to make up for the track running he lost because of a hydraulics issue in second practice.

However, with track conditions not too representative of what to expect under the lights, he stuck to a more traditional run plan.

![Clive Mason/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/09/607019634.jpg)

Things did not go smoothly, however, as issues under braking at Turn 7 blighted his session and meant, for the second straight day, he was unable to complete a low fuel run.

Ferrari seems to be lacking a little pace compared to their rivals. Kimi Raikkonen was third, albeit because of Ricciardo’s traffic issue, but Sebastian Vettel is having a nightmare weekend trying to set up his Prancing Horse.

On a track that most drivers found slippery, the four-time world champion described himself as a ‘passenger’, unable to control the rear of his car. He was fifth in the final standings.

![Clive Mason/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/09/607019372.jpg)

The midfield battle appears to be shaping up between Force India and Toro Rosso for the ‘best of the rest’. Nico Hulkenberg once again claimed sixth, after Hamilton’s issues, with Daniil Kvyat on his tail in seventh.

His teammate Carlos Sainz was four tenths behind the Russian, but still led the Williams’, McLaren’s and Haas’ in a complex picture.

Just how the final grid will take shape, we will have to wait until qualifying. It could well come down to who can avoid the worst of the traffic and who can hook up three good sectors to decide who takes pole.

Rosberg may be favourite, but as the giant lizard that invaded the track in final practice proved, in Singapore, you never know what’s just around the corner.