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Vettel sets pace in 3rd practice for Russian GP

Russia - Sebastian Vettel was fastest in the third and final practice for the 2017 Russian GP as Ferrari maintained its advantage over Mercedes on Saturday (April 29).

The Formula 1 leader's time was the fastest of the weekend so far, underlining Vettel's status as the man to beat in qualifying later on Saturday.

Ferrari one-two

His Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen was second, 0.337 seconds back, followed by the Mercedes cars of Valtteri Bottas in third and Lewis Hamilton in fourth.

Ferrari has topped all three practices on a Sochi track which had been widely expected to favour Mercedes.

As it happened: 2017 Russian GP - 3rd practice

Technical problems continued to dog Red Bull. Daniel Ricciardo briefly stopped on the track, a day after his team mate Max Verstappen's car broke down. 

Renault rushed to change Jolyon Palmer's engine ahead of qualifying after car problems prevented him from setting a time.

2017 Russian Grand Prix in Sochi:

Final practice times ahead of qualifying:
1. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1min34.001 (17 laps) (average 223.964 km/h) 
2. Kimi Rikknen (FIN/Ferrari) 1min34.338 (16) 
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1min34.364 (20) 
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1min34.542 (19) 
5. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-TAG Heuer) 1min35.452 (21) 
6. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams-Mercedes) 1min35.471 (17) 
7. Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Renault) 1min35.662 (15) 
8. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull-TAG Heuer) 1min35.830 (24) 
9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso-Renault) 1min36.164 (20) 
10. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1min36.556 (19) 
11. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1min36.649 (19) 
12. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India-Mercedes) 1min36.676 (22) 
13. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso-Renault) 1min36.846 (18) 
14. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Honda) 1min36.869 (12) 
15. Sergio Prez (MEX/Force India-Mercedes) 1min36.962 (21) 
16. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 1min37.164 (20) 
17. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren-Honda) 1min37.182 (15) 
18. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber-Ferrari) 1min37.503 (21) 
19. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber-Ferrari) 1min37.657 (17)



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