Nikita Mazepin goes off for a drive in the Bahrain desert. He's miles off track but the brief yellow flag slows Verstappen down when he was on a flier.

It's definitely a day for the biggest fan you've got.

We've waited a while for the Alpha Tauris and Pierre Gasly's effort was worth the wait as he jumps straight into second, just 0.122 off Verstappen.

Awak: Norris waves to Sainz be like... "Hey mate, I'm overtaking your Red car right now"

Michael: I think you wouldn’t be wise to bet against Max Verstappen this season. He’s maturing, he’s got a very good car, he’s hungry, ruthless... and almost forgot, he’s a very good driver too.

Times on the board from 17 of the 20, still waiting to see what the Alpha Tauri two and the Alfa Romeo of Kimi Raikkonen have for us today.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

The balance is looking nicer on the Red Bull for Max Verstappen.

He's on the hard tyre, so it's not going to be a like-for-like with Lewis Hamilton or Valtteri Bottas.

The Red Bull looks so much more hooked up than the Mercedes.

Max Verstappen, after topping two days of three in testing and then again in both sessions yesterday, is again leading the way.

He's on the hards and sets an early marker of 1:32.617, which is two tenths clear of Lewis Hamilton in second and three tenths clear of Lando Norris in third.

Norris third in session one, second in session two, third so far in session three.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Norris goes a bit wide...

Lando Norris was too deep into Turn 10. He wasn't quite as quick as Lewis Hamilton in the first sector - but he was very close to him. Norris was making up time in the middle sector until he went in a bit hot into Turn 10.

Lando is on the soft tyre, the same as Hamilton. And remember, he was very quick yesterday.

1. Hamilton 1:32.933 (Mercedes, current tyres softs)
2. Sainz +0.998 (Ferrari, hards)
3. Russell +1.835 (Williams, softs)
4. Alonso +2.343 (Alpine, mediums)
5. Latifi +2.437 (Williams, softs)
6. Bottas +3.246 (Mercedes, softs)

Peter: If the conditions now are totally different to the race tomorrow, what can the teams learn?

Image source, Reuters

Charles Leclerc spins at Turn Two and has to drive through the gravel to get back on the track.

That's where Kimi Raikkonen ran into the wall yesterday, with it ruining the front of the car, then spinning around and giving the back a bash too.

Leclerc avoids the wall but then says the grip is "so low".

Yesterday Valtteri Bottas said his car was undriveable and he is wobbling all over the place early on today.

It's a lap of 1:33.372, a full second slower than yesterday, but it won't count anyway for exceeding track limits.

He's dived back into the pits so a few tweaks needed in the Mercedes garage.

Just the 52 degrees on track.

Valtteri Bottas is out there on the softs but misses the corner, goes straight on into a run-off area and that's that lap ruined, but no danger to the car and he's good to carry on.

Jamie Rowe: Mercedes will lock out the front row. They do this every year. Run low power engine modes and high fuel during pre-season testing and the first practice and then obliterate everyone come qualifying.

Tom Fisk: Lots seem to think Hamilton is behind given his practices. Don't see it myself. He's a weekend racer who's 2 poles off a hundred & 5 wins off a hundred. Hamilton doesn't show his hand on a Friday, we'll know where he's at only after the full weekend.

No times from anyone in the opening 10 minutes, which means the next 50 will be frantic.

A nice, gentle start to a Saturday before the chaos of qualifying later on.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on 5 Live commentary

I was really impressed with Sainz yesterday. He had a good day, but all the other drivers who switched teams were behind their team-mates.

We know what Perez can go, but he has that gap to Verstappen on day one and he can't afford to not close it up quickly otherwise the pressure mounts and it becomes harder for him.