George Russell leads chaotic final free practice session of Azerbaijan GP at Baku - Results

George Russell showed impressive pace during the final practice session (FP3) ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clocking the fastest time with a stunning lap of 1:42.514. The Mercedes driver posted his top time just two minutes before the session ended, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.013 seconds.

Russell's performance underlines Mercedes' competitive edge going into the race weekend, but other teams are not far behind. Leclerc finished second, while McLaren’s Lando Norris secured the third spot with a time of 1:42.737, indicating a closely fought session. Oscar Piastri and reigning world champion Max Verstappen rounded out the top five, further showing that McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes are all set for a thrilling battle.

Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon crash out!

However, the FP3 session wasn’t without its challenges. Red flags were flown twice, halting the action briefly. The first red flag came just 15 minutes into the session when Alpine’s Esteban Ocon experienced a mechanical issue, bringing his car to a standstill. Later, Haas driver Oliver Bearman triggered another red flag after a crash, adding to the drama of an already competitive session.

The close times among the top drivers reflect the tight nature of this weekend’s competition. With only fractions of a second separating Russell from his rivals, all eyes are on qualifying, which is expected to be a nail-biting affair. This session sets the stage for an exciting Azerbaijan GP as teams prepare for a highly competitive qualifying on the challenging Baku City Circuit.

FP3 Results - Azerbaijan GP