Practice 3 Report - Russell heads Mercedes FP3

George Russell
© Mercedes

George Russell restored Mercedes’ authority at Formula 1’s Austrian Grand Prix by edging team-mate Kimi Antonelli in final practice at the Red Bull Ring, denying the championship leader a clean sweep of all three practice sessions.

Antonelli had topped both Friday sessions and again looked poised to finish fastest on Saturday, only for Russell to deliver a late 1m07.096s lap to snatch top spot by just 0.038s in the closing minutes.

Mercedes arrived in Spielberg determined to bounce back after Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton ended its unbeaten run in Barcelona, and the Silver Arrows again underlined why they remain favourites in Austria.

Running was initially subdued in temperatures comfortably above 30C, with teams taking their time before embarking on qualifying simulations.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris was the first of the frontrunners to show his hand, posting a 1m07.832s early on.

Oscar Piastri soon closed to within half a tenth before Antonelli put Mercedes on top with a 1m07.533s. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc then split the Mercedes pair, while Max Verstappen ensured all four leading teams were covered by little more than three tenths at the halfway stage.

Russell briefly reduced Antonelli’s advantage to just 0.017s, but the Italian responded emphatically with a 1m07.134s. Russell complained of poor braking stability into Turn 3, reporting “really bad straight-line braking on the front axle”, which appeared to compromise his earlier attempts.

As the final soft-tyre runs unfolded, Hamilton emerged as Mercedes’ closest challenger. The Ferrari driver vaulted to second, just 0.077s behind Antonelli, while McLaren failed to reproduce Friday’s pace.

Russell, however, saved his best until the final minutes. His 1m07.096s proved enough to reclaim first place, with Antonelli unable to answer after losing time in the opening sectors and returning to the pits.

Hamilton ended the session third, 0.115s adrift, ahead of Piastri, Norris and Verstappen. Leclerc could manage only seventh after a lock-up at Turn 3 ruined his final qualifying simulation.

Racing Bulls impressed in the midfield battle, with Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad both making the top 10, while Aston Martin endured another difficult session as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll occupied the final two positions.

Final lap times: Russell 1m07.096s, Antonelli 1m07.134s, Hamilton 1m07.211s, Piastri 1m07.344s, Norris 1m07.360s, Verstappen 1m07.369s, Leclerc 1m07.452s, Hadjar 1m07.912s, Lawson 1m08.031s, Lindblad 1m08.109s, Pierre Gasly 1m08.193s, Nico Hulkenberg 1m08.303s, Gabriel Bortoleto 1m08.311s, Franco Colapinto 1m08.394s, Oliver Bearman 1m08.529s, Esteban Ocon 1m08.707s, Carlos Sainz 1m08.843s, Alex Albon 1m08.992s, Sergio Perez 1m09.532s, Valtteri Bottas 1m09.740s, Fernando Alonso 1m10.421s and Lance Stroll 1m10.567s.