Russell Edges Antonelli, Hamilton to Top Final Practice in Austria

George Russell produced a late burst of speed to top final practice for the Austrian Grand Prix, edging Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.038 seconds. After dominating Friday's running, Antonelli looked set to continue his strong form until Russell found his rhythm in the dying minutes, setting up a tantalizing qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring.

Why it matters:

Antonelli has been the driver to beat in 2026, reeling off five consecutive wins to open the season before Lewis Hamilton claimed victory for Ferrari in Barcelona. The Italian holds a 41-point advantage over Hamilton, while Russell sits nine points further back in third. Any slip-up from Antonelli this weekend could quickly tighten a title fight that already looked more competitive after Spain.

The details:

• Russell's lap of 1:07.096 reversed a session where he appeared out of sorts, proving Mercedes has genuine pace over one lap when it matters.
• Hamilton continued his resurgence with Ferrari by finishing third, only a tenth behind Antonelli and firmly in the mix for pole position.
• Oscar Piastri led McLaren's charge in fourth, narrowly ahead of team-mate Lando Norris, while Max Verstappen could only manage sixth for Red Bull.
• Charles Leclerc once again struggled to match his team-mate's pace, ending the session seventh and more than three tenths off Russell's benchmark.

What's next:

Qualifying later on Saturday promises to be a tight affair. With Mercedes and Ferrari both showing competitive pace and McLaren lurking just behind, the battle for pole at the Red Bull Ring is wide open.