A host of drivers behind missed out on representative soft-tyre laps, though, given that Bearman lost control of his car exiting Turn 11 and spun around into the Turn 12 wall with five minutes remaining, bringing out the red flags. “Ah, man – sorry,” lamented the rookie over the radio.
With the clock ticking down to zero, Isack Hadjar’s bright pink Racing Bulls car rounded out the top six, from Russell (whose best time came on mediums given Bearman’s shunt), Tsunoda and Antonelli, as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top-10 places.
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Norris was another driver to lose out from the red flag, ending up 12th between the other VCARB 02 of Liam Lawson while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was in 13th. The Briton was followed by Kick Sauber racers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, and the sidelined Bearman.
Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan put their Alpines 17th and 19th respectively, sandwiching the team’s former driver Ocon, while the second Aston Martin machine driven by Lance Stroll completed the 20-strong pack.
Drivers and teams will now regroup in the paddock before returning to the track for Sprint Qualifying, which is scheduled to get under way at 1630 local time and will set the grid for Saturday’s 100-kilometre Sprint race.
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