F3: Verstappen ends Imola test on top

Max Verstappen put himself at the top of the times for the second and final day of the Formula 3 European Championship test at Imola.

The Toro Rosso Formula 1 recruit sat at the head of the order for most of the day in his Van Amersfoort Racing Dallara-Volkswagen, with his morning best being the overall fastest over the two days as the field prepares for this weekend's penultimate round of the championship.

Tuesday pacesetter Jake Dennis was second quickest, just under three tenths adrift of Verstappen in the morning with his Carlin Dallara-VW.

The biggest surprise of the test was Sean Gelael's third-fastest time of the day. The Indonesian has been increasingly a fixture in the points over the summer but made a big leap forward to top Jagonya Ayam/Carlin stablemate Antonio Giovinazzi.

Their teammate Tom Blomqvist joined the test one day late after missing Tuesday due to sustaining concussion when he hit his head in a fall.

Verstappen was quickest again in the afternoon session, this time with a margin of more than three tenths over Felix Rosenqvist. The Mucke Motorsport-run Swede bounced back from a morning shunt to be one of the few leading runners to improve in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Prema Powerteam squad again kept its powder dry at a circuit it knows well, with championship leader Esteban Ocon on the fringes on the top 10 for most of the day.

Nick Cassidy was a notable performer as he prepares for his first F3 race outing of the year. Driving a third Three Bond T-Sport Dallara-NBE, the New Zealander has put himself comfortably in the top 10 in all four sessions over the two days, and was fourth in the final runout.

Combined Wednesday times