George Russell Leads Final Australia Practice; Kimi Antonelli Crashes Late
In the concluding practice session of the Australian Grand Prix, George Russell showcased his dominance by topping the timesheets. The Mercedes driver delivered a standout performance during a session that experienced multiple disruptions, notably due to a serious crash involving his teammate, Kimi Antonelli.
Session Overview
The final practice began at 12:50 PM local time, following repairs to the barriers after a crash in the F3 Sprint Race. Franco Colapinto from Alpine was among the first to hit the track, accompanied by well-known drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
Major Incidents
- Carlos Sainz: The Williams driver faced difficulties when his car halted near the pit entry. This incident led to yellow flags and the deployment of a Virtual Safety Car.
- Kimi Antonelli: He suffered a heavy crash at Turn 2 later in the session, bringing out red flags as the marshals worked to clear the scene. Fortunately, he emerged unscathed.
Track Activity
Despite the interruptions, the session was lively, with most drivers getting valuable practice time. As the session progressed, Charles Leclerc initially set the fastest time, only to be unseated by Hamilton later. The final half of the hour saw numerous drivers switching to soft tires, which improved lap times significantly.
Final Results
As the session neared its conclusion, Russell claimed the top spot with a remarkable time of 1m 19.053s, a substantial 0.774 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Hamilton finished in second place, trailing his former teammate by 0.616 seconds.
The final top positions were as follows:
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1m 19.053s |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1m 19.669s |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1m 19.721s |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1m 19.731s |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1m 19.840s |
Antonelli concluded the session in seventh, raising questions about the car’s readiness for the upcoming qualifying rounds. Other notable performances included Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen from Red Bull, finishing sixth and eighth respectively.
Upcoming Qualifying Session
With final practice complete, all eyes are now on the qualifying session scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM local time. Teams will look to optimize their performance following this crucial practice session.
