Hamilton leads Mercedes one-two in close final practice at Monza · RaceFans

Lewis Hamilton headed the second Mercedes of George Russell within the closing observe session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The quantity 44 Mercedes was quickest for the second consecutive observe session, Hamilton posting a finest time slightly below a tenth of a second faster than his crew mate. Charles Leclerc was third quickest forward of the 2 McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

It was a barely cooler begin to Saturday in comparison with Friday’s second observe session, however ambient temperatures had been nonetheless over 30C when the ultimate hour of observe started.

A gradual begin to the session noticed solely the 2 Purple Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez take to the observe of the highest groups within the opening minutes. Utilizing the medium compound tyres, Verstappen set the preliminary tempo with a 1’21.560, a tenth faster than his crew mate.

The 2 Mercedes took to the observe, Russell going quickest by three tenths over the Purple Bulls, then Hamilton shifting into second. Then it was the McLarens’ flip to go out, with each Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris taking turns on the prime of the occasions with their mushy tyres.

Instances continued to tumble as drivers discovered extra velocity across the new Monza floor. Leclerc put his Ferrari on prime with a 1’20.614 on softs, whereas Russell improved on his used mediums to go second, slightly below a tenth behind.

Piastri had a second on the exit of the second Lesmo, kicking up gravel as he ran broad, with Verstappen following swimsuit quickly after. Alexander Albon put his up to date Williams to the highest of the occasions on mushy tyres, earlier than he was displaced by Carlos Sainz Jnr.

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Groups fitted contemporary mushy tyres for his or her qualifying simulation runs in direction of the tip of the session. Hamilton went quickest of all with a 1’20.117, a time his crew mate acquired inside a tenth of. Verstappen was two tenths slower than Hamilton together with his private finest push lap, complaining that his RB20 “wouldn’t flip.”

There have been no enhancements on the entrance of the sphere within the closing minutes of the session with Hamilton ending the hour because the quickest driver forward of Mercedes crew mate Russell. Leclerc was third forward of the 2 McLarens of Piastri and Norris with Verstappen in sixth and Sainz seventh. Albon was eighth forward of his debuting crew mate Franco Colapinto with Nico Hulkenberg tenth for Haas.

The stewards will examine an incident involving Leclerc, Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo after the session. Piastri gave the impression to be caught out unaware that Leclerc was approaching him on the exit of the Lesmos and appeared to maneuver apart to make means for Ricciardo behind him. Leclerc, who was alongside the McLaren on the time, needed to take to the grass to keep away from a collision, whereas Ricciardo needed to decelerate in response to the near-miss forward.

After taking the chequered flag, Kevin Magnussen was given an pressing instruction to cease his Haas on observe. He did so on the run to the Ascari chicane however didn’t disrupt the observe begins for his rivals.