George Russell was fastest in third practice for the Italian Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver set a 22.219 to go a quarter of a second faster than Lewis Hamilton with Max Verstappen over a tenth further behind. The Mercedes driver looked comfortable during practice as he held off the two multiple times champions.
Russell has endured a difficult season, starting the year as a favourite before being outperformed by his far less experienced teammate. However, appears to have found a groove at Monza, with pole position having the potential to reignite his championship challenge.
The second Mercedes driver, Kimi Antonelli, was fourth the championship leader just over a hundredth behind, as he went almost half a tenth faster than current champion Lando Norris. Mercedes and Ferrari have looked close all weekend but the Silver Arrows can only secure pole with Russell; Antonelli has penalties for taking new engine parts that will leave him starting from the back of the grid regardless of where he qualifies.
There was drama in the closing moments of the session as Hamilton and Verstappen almost collided at the first corner after a squabble for track position ahead of what should have been their final attempts at flying laps.
Hamilton snuck ahead of Verstappen as they approached the final corner, which angered the Dutchman, prompting him to attempt to race the Ferrari over the start-finish line and then dive up the inside into the first corner.
Hamilton bailed out to prevent contact, avoiding a repeat of the pair’s famous collision in the 2021 Grand Prix when they were battling for the drivers’ title. The stewards noted the incident but decided an investigation wasn’t necessary
Lando Norris, the other championship contender, put his McLaren fifth, the reigning champion nearly half a tenth behind the Mercedes, as the Englishman went eighth hundredths faster than Charles Leclerc. McLaren struggled to show the gains needed overnight, which allowed them to win the last two races.
Arvid Lindblad was a hundredth and a half behind as he went half a tenth faster than a frustrated Oscar Piastri who had several lockups at the first corner. Lindblad once again impressed in the Racing Bull as they debuted their version of the Macarena rear wing.
The two Alpines completed the top ten, 2020 race winner Pierre Gasly was a tenth behind Piastri as he went a quarter of a tenth faster than Franco Colapinto. Nico Hulkenberg missing out on the top ten by a quarter of a tenth as Liam Lawson, standing in for Isack Hadjar, split the Audi’s after going nearly a tenth faster than Gabriel Bortoleto.
Ollie Bearman put is Haas nearly a quarter of a second faster than Yuki Tsunoda, while his teammate Esteban Ocon split the Williams. The Frenchman was a quarter of a second behind Carlos Sainz and over four tenths faster than Esteban Ocon.
Back markers Aston Martin and Cadillac completed the field, Fernando Alonso eight and a half hundredths faster than Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez half a second faster than Lance Stroll
