ITALIAN GRAND PRIX: GEORGE RUSSELL GOES QUICKEST IN FINAL PRACTICE, TEAMMATE KIMI A…..see more in comment

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX: GEORGE RUSSELL GOES QUICKEST IN FINAL PRACTICE, TEAMMATE KIMI A…..see more in comment

George Russell delivered a timely boost for Mercedes and his title hopes by topping final practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Briton set a best lap of 1:22.219 to head the timesheets, edging Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 0.226s and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.350s. It was a statement lap at a track where Mercedes needed to respond after Ferrari dominated FP1 with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton in a 1-2. Russell had already gone fastest in FP2 on Friday with a 1:22.559, 0.120s clear of Leclerc, and carried that momentum into Saturday morning’s running despite a late query over a front-end vibration.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was fourth fastest in the final session with a 1:22.580, just 0.361s off his Mercedes teammate. The 19-year-old Italian was also third in FP2, 0.141s behind Russell, and showed strong pace through the middle sector. However, his hopes of winning on home soil have taken a hit — Antonelli is set to start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid after exceeding the permitted number of power unit changes. “We are not too far away in terms of competitiveness, but we need to be strong if we are to battle towards the front of the field,” he said, noting the team used FP3 to practice overtaking in traffic.
Ferrari remained competitive in front of the Tifosi. Leclerc was second in FP2 and sixth in FP3, while Hamilton went second in final practice after an engine upgrade and a special livery celebrating Michael Schumacher’s first Monza win 30 years ago. McLaren’s Lando Norris, winner of the last two races, was fourth in FP3 and fourth in FP2. With Russell and Hamilton 59 points behind Antonelli in the standings, and the Italian starting last, Mercedes see Monza as a golden chance to close the gap. “We got through a lot of work today and seem to have decent pace, but there is more to do,” Russell said, with qualifying set to decide who starts from pole at the ‘Temple of Speed’.