F1 Results Today: George Russell Leads Final Practice a… read more 👇 full details in the comments section

George Russell has delivered another impressive performance at Monza, finishing fastest in the final practice session ahead of qualifying for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver continued his strong weekend form by setting the benchmark time of 1:22.219, putting himself firmly among the leading contenders for pole position.

Russell’s result is particularly significant because it came at the end of a competitive FP3 session in which Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren all showed strong pace. With qualifying approaching, the small gaps between the leading cars suggest that the fight for the front row could be extremely close.

Hamilton Impresses for Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari, just 0.226 seconds behind Russell. The seven-time world champion looked increasingly comfortable with his Ferrari at the high-speed Monza circuit and will be hoping to convert that pace into a strong qualifying result.

Hamilton’s performance also gives Ferrari plenty of encouragement at its home race. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, finished sixth, leaving the Scuderia with two cars inside the top six.

Verstappen Back Among the Leaders

Max Verstappen completed the top three, recording a time just 0.350 seconds slower than Russell. After a relatively difficult FP2 session, where the Red Bull driver finished ninth, Verstappen’s FP3 performance represents a significant improvement.

The Dutchman will now enter qualifying with a much stronger reference point. Red Bull will be hoping that the setup changes made overnight can translate into even more performance when the drivers begin pushing for pole.

Antonelli Finishes Fourth

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli ended final practice in fourth position, only 0.361 seconds away from his Mercedes teammate. His performance is another indication that Mercedes has found a competitive package for Monza.

However, Antonelli’s weekend remains complicated by his grid penalty. Despite leading the championship, he is set to start from the back of the grid because of the power-unit change. That means his qualifying position will have little influence on his starting place, although his pace could still play an important role in helping Russell during qualifying.

McLaren Still in the Fight

Lando Norris finished fifth, continuing McLaren’s presence near the front. The reigning world champion has won the last two races and will be looking to maintain that momentum at Monza.

Oscar Piastri finished eighth, meaning both McLaren drivers remained inside the top eight. With only a little more than half a second separating the top eight, the team could still be a serious threat when qualifying begins.

FP3 Top 9

The leading drivers from final practice were:

1. George Russell – Mercedes: 1:22.219
2. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari: +0.226s
3. Max Verstappen – Red Bull: +0.350s
4. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes: +0.361s
5. Lando Norris – McLaren: +0.406s
6. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari: +0.489s
7. Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls: +0.505s
8. Oscar Piastri – McLaren: +0.554s
9. Pierre Gasly – Alpine: +0.679s

Qualifying Set for a Major Battle

Russell’s second consecutive session at the top has made Mercedes look like a serious candidate for pole position. However, Hamilton, Verstappen, Ferrari and McLaren remain close enough to challenge.

Monza’s long straights make slipstream tactics particularly important, and drivers were already experimenting with giving and receiving a tow during FP3.

With the top 12 drivers reportedly separated by less than a second, qualifying could come down to tiny margins. Russell has the advantage of momentum, but Hamilton will have the passionate Ferrari crowd behind him, while Verstappen and the McLaren drivers will be eager to disrupt the Mercedes-Ferrari battle.

The stage is now set for an intriguing qualifying session at the Temple of Speed, with pole position potentially playing a crucial role in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.