George Russell produced a late burst of pace to top final practice at the Austrian Grand Prix from his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
World championship leader Antonelli topped both of Friday’s practices at the Red Bull Ring and appeared to be further separating himself from his rivals for much of Saturday’s session, before the script flipped as his closest title challengers came to life in the closing stages.
First, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton closed within a tenth of Antonelli, then Russell, who had looked out of sorts for most of the session, delivered a lap of 1:07.096s to go 0.038s clear of his team-mate, setting up a potentially enthralling qualifying contest later on Saturday.
Antonelli leads Hamilton by 41 points at the top of the standings, with Russell a further nine points back in third. The 19-year-old Italian had claimed the first five victories of his career in succession before Hamilton claimed his first win for Ferrari last time out in Barcelona.
Oscar Piastri was almost a quarter of a second off the pace in fourth as he edged out his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen marginally behind them in sixth.
Charles Leclerc once more struggled to match his Ferrari team-mate Hamilton as he was more than three tenths off Russell’s leading time in seventh.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Austrian Grand Prix
Saturday June 27
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: AUSTRIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 28
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: F2 Feature Race
10.50am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Austrian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Austrian GP reaction: Chequered Flag
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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