PRACTICE THREE
Report: Third and seventh times for Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen respectively in the final free practice for the Australian Grand Prix. The Spaniard took his F14 T round in 1.30.876, a second and a half off the fastest time, which was set by Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes. The German was the dominant force, lapping 1.3 seconds quicker than second placed Jenson Button in the McLaren. Kimi Raikkonen’s best lap was a 1.31.156 and the Finn completed 12 laps, one more than his team-mate.
Both drivers concentrated on set-up work aimed at qualifying, in a session which was affected by a strong wind blowing across Albert Park. Heading from the nearby ocean, it brought in leaves and debris, which made life complicated in the braking areas, which explains several harmless off-track excursions, including one for Kimi.
Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap Laps
1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m29.375s 15
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m30.766s +1.391s 20
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m30.876s +1.501s 11
4. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m30.919s +1.544s 13
5. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1m30.970s +1.595s 13
6. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m30.978s +1.603s 16
7. Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1m31.156s +1.781s 12
8. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1m31.251s +1.876s 22
9. Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1m31.665s +2.290s 17
10. Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m31.723s +2.348s 20
11. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 1m31.925s +2.550s 17
12. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m32.255s +2.880s 14
13. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 1m32.417s +3.042s 16
14. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1m34.184s +4.809s 15
15. Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1m34.188s +4.813s 16
16. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1m34.413s +5.038s 19
17. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 1m34.717s +5.342s 15
18. Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 1m34.754s +5.379s 15
19. Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 1m36.159s +6.784s 21
20. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 2
21. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 2
22. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 4
