Russell Edges Antonelli as Mercedes Dominates FP3 in Austria

George Russell delivered a late flying lap to edge Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli and top final practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. Antonelli had set the pace at 1m07.134s shortly past the halfway mark, but Russell found time in the final sector to post a 1m07.096s and secure a Mercedes one-two.

Why it matters:

With Ferrari and McLaren in the mix and Red Bull running upgrades, Mercedes' one-two sends a clear signal that it has hit the ground running at the Red Bull Ring. Lewis Hamilton backed up Ferrari's engine upgrade with third place, while Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris lurked in fourth and fifth, suggesting a genuine multi-team scrap for pole is brewing.

The details:

• Russell's 1m07.096s edged Antonelli by 0.038s, though neither driver could improve on Antonelli's Friday FP2 benchmark.
• Hamilton led Ferrari's charge in third, 0.115s off the pace, offering early evidence that the Maranello engine upgrade is paying off.
• Max Verstappen managed only sixth in the upgraded RB22 after battling persistent radio interference, finishing 0.273s adrift.
• Verstappen's team-mate Isack Hadjar struggled for pace in eighth, nearly six tenths behind, while the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
• Aston Martin suffered through a difficult session, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in 21st and 22nd, both over 3.3s off the pace.

What's next:

Qualifying promises to be tightly fought. While Mercedes enters as the favorite, Ferrari's straight-line gains and McLaren's consistent pace mean the Silver Arrows will face stiff competition. For Red Bull, fixing Verstappen's radio issues will be critical if the team hopes to challenge for pole at its home circuit.