BAKU, Sept 14 (Askume) – George Russell put Mercedes on top of the timetable during final practice for the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday.
The British driver lapped the Baku City Circuit in a best time of 1 minute 42.514 seconds, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc trailing by 0.013 seconds.
Leclerc has taken pole position for the last three races at Baku and was fastest in Friday’s second practice session.
Russell’s lap was a bit of a surprise, although the track was getting faster and he set a later time than Leclerc, but he complained of a “really bad ride on the straights when braking”.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are third and fourth, while championship leader Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen leads Norris by 62 points with eight rounds remaining.
Verstappen was fastest in Friday’s first practice session, meaning three different teams have taken the lead across the three races in Baku ahead of qualifying on Saturday.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished sixth and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished seventh.
His two Williams teammates Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto finished eighth and ninth respectively, while Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top ten.
A red flag came out when Esteban Ocon’s Alpine lost power and stopped before anyone could set a timed lap, then British novice Oliver Beardsman, replacing the suspended Kevin Magnussen, hit the wall.
Bellman realised he would not be able to take the first turn and tried to swerve off the road, but it was too late as the car to his left collided with the guardrail.
“Oh, what a fool I am,” he said over the radio.
