George Russell Tops FP3 at Monza, Mercedes Set for Italian Grand Prix Pole
George Russell laid down a serious marker at Monza, topping final practice and putting Mercedes in the box seat for Italian Grand Prix pole.
The Briton clocked a 1m22.219s in FP3, three tenths quicker than Friday’s benchmark and 0.226s clear of Lewis Hamilton, with the lap coming without the benefit of a tow. On a circuit where slipstream games can decide the front row, Russell looked quick with help and, crucially, without it.
Mercedes drill the tow – but Russell doesn’t need it
Both Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli spent a chunk of the session rehearsing the tows that will dominate qualifying strategy later today. Antonelli, carrying grid penalties this weekend, looks set to play the support role, but Russell’s final run showed he may not need much assistance.
Clean air, no tow, and still comfortably fastest. That’s the sort of lap that changes the tone of a qualifying day.
Hamilton backed up Mercedes’ speed with second place, giving the team a commanding one-two at the top of the times. His best effort left him just under a quarter of a second shy of Russell, but firmly ahead of the rest.
Verstappen responds, tension at Parabolica
Red Bull’s single-lap pace, ragged on Friday, snapped back into shape. Max Verstappen took third, hinting that the world champions have found a better balance overnight.
The session did not pass without a flashpoint. At the end of FP3, Hamilton jumped ahead of Verstappen on the run into Alboreto (Parabolica), with Verstappen responding in his own way. As they crossed the line, the Dutchman gave Hamilton a thumbs-up to signal that his lap had been ruined, then ran deep into Turn 1, making sure Hamilton couldn’t hit the apex cleanly.
The stewards noted the incident. No drama yet, but the tone between the two was clear enough.
Antonelli leads the chase, McLaren hide their hand
Championship leader Antonelli slotted into fourth, underlining Mercedes’ strong footing heading into qualifying. Behind him came Lando Norris in the quickest of the McLarens, the winner of the last two races keeping himself in the frame without showing everything.
Oscar Piastri offered one of the more intriguing laps of the session. He lit up the timing screens with the fastest first sector of all on his final attempt and stayed within Russell’s time through sector two. Then the lap faded. He crossed the line more than half a second down and only eighth fastest.
On paper, that looks underwhelming. In reality, it screamed of teams playing with very different energy deployment maps, saving their true modes for later.
Ferrari and Racing Bulls join the Monza shuffle
Charles Leclerc carried Ferrari’s hopes in front of the tifosi and ended FP3 between Norris and Piastri, while Arvid Lindblad again showcased his raw speed in the Racing Bulls.
For a spell late in the session, Lindblad owned the quickest final sector of anyone, helped by a huge tow from Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi. That slipstream flattered the gap to the rest of the midfield, but the lap still put him in the mix and ahead of Pierre Gasly, the next-best midfield runner.
Gasly led Alpine’s charge and finished ahead of team-mate Franco Colapinto as the pair completed the top 10.
Lawson spins, Aston Martin-Cadillac struggle
Liam Lawson endured a scruffy start to Saturday. The Red Bull driver looped his RB22 under power as he attacked the kerb through the first chicane, a neat reminder of how unforgiving Monza’s opening complex can be. He recovered to finish 12th, but almost a second off Russell and more than six tenths adrift of Verstappen.
At the rear, Fernando Alonso found a little late improvement to head the Aston Martin-Cadillac quartet, but the green cars again looked detached from the main pack.
Russell, though, sits in a very different place. Fast with a tow, ruthless without one, and armed with a team-mate ready to play the slipstream game. On a qualifying day at Monza, that is a powerful combination.
