Practice 3 Report - Bounce Back

Mercedes may have struggled to be on the pace in Singapore, but the team bounced back in Suzuka with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton posting the fastest times in Free Practice 3.

The ambient temperature at the start of the session was 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Centigrade) and the track temperature was 95 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Centigrade).

The line-up for the weekend was: Mercedes - Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Red Bull Renault - Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat. Williams Mercedes - Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren Honda - Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. Force India Mercedes - Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Toro Rosso Renault - Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Lotus Mercedes - Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. Marussia Ferrari - Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi. Sauber - Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr.

It had rained in both FP1 and FP2 on Friday, so the teams had no idea how their cars would be in dry conditions.

"It's impossible to judge about the real performance level of the field in those conditions," Rosberg said. "We have to learn a lot in FP3."

Ricciardo was the first out. Most of the drivers were using Pirelli's hard compound tires with the orange sidewalls, but some tried the medium compound with the white sidewalls. Ricciardo set the first time - 1:36.392. He improved that to a 1:36.010.

10 minutes into the session, the top six were: Ricciardo, Verstappen, Bottas, Kvyat, Massa and Sainz. The Ferrari drivers had yet to set a time.

12 minutes into the session, Ricciardo was now on the medium tires, and he set a time of 1:34.755.

15 minutes into the session, Raikkonen used the mediums to clock a very slow time, so he headed off for another lap.

17 minutes into the session, Hamilton was seventh and Rosberg eighth.

19 minutes into the session, Vettel was finally on track, and he was on the medium tires. But he was on a long run and not going for a fast lap.

22 minutes into the session, Verstappen tried the mediums and did a 1:35.160.

29 minutes into the session, Bottas moved into second with a 1:35.128 and then Ricciardo improved to a 1:34.497.

Midway through FP3 the top six were: Ricciardo, Bottas, Verstappen, Sainz, Button and Kvyat.

With 29 minutes remaining in the session, Massa turned a 1:34.934 to take second place.

With 23 minutes remaining in the session, Rosberg was on a fast lap on the mediums and he set a time of 1:33.995.

With 20 minutes remaining in the session, Hamilton took second place with a 1:33.995.

The order was now; Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Massa, Bottas, Verstappen, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Button and Ericsson.

With 12 minutes remaining in the session, most drivers were in the garages preparing for their final runs.

With 7 minutes remaining in the session, both Ferrari drivers were having a go on the mediums. Raikkonen moved into fifth and Vettel to eighth.

With 6 minutes remaining in the session, every driver but Button was on track.

The top 10 at the end of FP3 were: Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Bottas, Massa, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Vettel, Grosjean and Sainz.'