---
title: "Vettel fastest in FP3, both Mercedes’ suffer spins"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2018/07/28/vettel-fastest-in-fp3-both-mercedes-suffer-spins/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kyran Gibbons"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2018-07-28T11:24:38Z"
modified: "2018-07-28T11:24:38Z"
---

# Vettel fastest in FP3, both Mercedes’ suffer spins

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel topped the timesheet in final practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix, as Valtteri Bottas finished second for Mercedes despite tagging the wall after a spin.

Vettel dominated at the top of the times. His first competitive lap of the hour-long session was 0.643s faster than second-placed Bottas.

His advantage was eroded and Bottas did briefly usurp Vettel as fastest, before the Ferrari ace recorded a 1m16.170s, setting a session-best time in sector one, to return to top spot.

Bottas improved and recorded the fastest time through the second sector, but ended up 0.059s adrift of Vettel’s best.

Both Bottas and his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton suffered spins at the tight Turns 6 and 7 chicane. Losing control on corner entry, Bottas slid across the grass on the outside of the corner and hit the wall with both left-side tyres. He was able to continue in the session.

Hamilton also suffered off-track moments at Turn 1 and oversteered onto the run-off area at the medium-speed Turn 9 during the session, en route to fourth on the timesheet and 0.579s slower than Vettel.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was third, setting his best time on his third hot lap of an ultrasoft run.

The Red Bulls also found time on old tyres, with Daniel Ricciardo improving to fifth place on his final lap of the session. Both Ricciardo and sixth-placed Max Verstappen gradually closed in on the fastest time throughout the hour, ending up 0.633s and 0.776s behind Vettel respectively.

Verstappen had one lap compromised by Charles Leclerc during the session. The Sauber rookie was caught out on the racing line at Turn 1 and the pair nearly tripped over each other on the exit of the corner.

Carlos Sainz Jr was seventh for Renault, while team-mate Nico Hulkenberg made a late improvement to take eighth place.

Both Romain Grosjean and Pierre Gasly complained at having laps compromised by traffic during the session, but finished ninth and 10th respectively.

Force India’s programme was unaffected by [last night’s news that the team has entered administration](https://readmotorsport.com/2018/07/28/force-india-team-placed-into-administration/). However, it was a tricky session in which Esteban Ocon ended up 15th and Sergio Perez was 19th.