Italian GP: Russell edges Hamilton in Monza final practice

George Russell sent a warning shot ahead of Italian Grand Prix qualifying by putting Mercedes firmly at the top of the order in final practice at Monza, with Lewis Hamilton leading a Ferrari challenge in second.

The Briton produced a late 1m22.219s to finish 0.226 seconds clear of Hamilton, who benefited from a tow from Lando Norris.

Max Verstappen placed third for Red Bull, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli completed the top four despite his enforced back-of-the-grid start for Sunday.

• Italian Grand Prix Free Practice 3 - Results

Mercedes finds its rhythm

The session took time to ignite, with Franco Colapinto initially leading Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly on medium tyres. Antonelli then raised the tempo on softs, posting a 1m23.032s before abandoning what appeared to be an even quicker lap after running wide at the final Parabolica.

Verstappen subsequently moved close to Antonelli's benchmark on mediums, although Red Bull's handling woes remained evident.

Liam Lawson endured a spin at the first chicane after losing the rear of his car, while Verstappen could not quite match Mercedes once the Silver Arrows unleashed their qualifying pace.

Russell first lowered the bar to 1m22.687s before improving to 1m22.463s, aided by a substantial tow from Antonelli as Mercedes rehearsed its slipstream strategy. With Antonelli starting from the back, his assistance could prove crucial when qualifying gets serious.

The championship leader himself briefly moved into second with a 1m22.696s, underlining Mercedes' apparent recovery.

McLaren struggles as Lindblad shines

There was considerably less encouragement for McLaren. World champion Norris could manage only fifth, while Oscar Piastri was eighth after suffering several lock-ups into Turn 1 and voicing his frustration over team radio.

Charles Leclerc was sixth in the second Ferrari, his progress hampered by traffic, leaving the Monegasque searching for a cleaner run before qualifying.

Racing Bulls once again provided one of the session's brighter surprises. Arvid Lindblad, the only rookie on the 2026 grid, placed seventh and emerged as the best of the midfield runners with the team's rotating rear-wing concept.

Gasly and Colapinto completed the top ten for Alpine, keeping the French outfit firmly in the midfield fight.

At the other end, Aston Martin and Cadillac remained locked together near the bottom, with little separating the two teams as the battle to avoid the final row intensified.

But at the sharp end, Mercedes had delivered the clearest message: Russell is heading into qualifying with the benchmark firmly in his hands.

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