MONZA, Italy — George Russell has put Mercedes firmly at the front of the Italian Grand Prix fight after topping final practice at Monza, but the battle behind him suggests qualifying could be far closer than the FP3 times indicate.
Russell produced a blistering 1:22.219 to finish fastest in Saturday’s final practice session, continuing Mercedes’ impressive pace at the high-speed Monza circuit. The Briton finished 0.226 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while Max Verstappen placed third for Red Bull.
The result strengthens Russell’s position as one of the leading contenders for pole position later Saturday, but the championship implications are arguably even bigger.
Russell and Hamilton entered the Italian Grand Prix weekend level on points, with Russell holding the advantage in race victories. Both drivers are chasing championship leader and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, who has a 59-point advantage over them.
Russell keeps Mercedes on top
Russell had already shown strong pace on Friday, topping FP2 with a 1:22.559, just 0.120 seconds faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
His FP3 performance was even more convincing.
Hamilton was the closest challenger, while Verstappen ended the session third, 0.350 seconds off Russell’s benchmark. Antonelli was fourth, followed by reigning world champion Lando Norris. Leclerc finished sixth.
The competitiveness of the field could make qualifying particularly unpredictable. The top 12 drivers were separated by less than one second, meaning even a small mistake, traffic problem or poorly timed tow could dramatically change the order.
Hamilton provides Ferrari hope
Hamilton’s second-place finish will provide encouragement for Ferrari and the passionate Monza crowd.
The seven-time world champion is chasing a record sixth Italian Grand Prix victory, and Ferrari has introduced an engine upgrade for its home race. The team is also celebrating the legacy of Michael Schumacher, with Ferrari marking the 30th anniversary of Schumacher’s first Italian Grand Prix victory.
Hamilton’s pace in FP3 also represents a significant improvement from Friday afternoon, when he finished fifth in FP2 behind Russell, Leclerc, Antonelli and Norris.
That makes Ferrari’s qualifying potential difficult to dismiss despite Mercedes’ advantage in the final practice session.
Antonelli’s penalty changes everything
Perhaps the biggest storyline heading into qualifying is not the FP3 order at all—it is what happens to championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
The young Italian is due to start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid after Mercedes fitted a new power unit, exceeding the relevant component allocation. That penalty could dramatically reduce his ability to defend his 59-point championship advantage.
Antonelli therefore has little to gain from qualifying position for Sunday’s race, but he could still play a major role in Mercedes’ qualifying strategy.
Mercedes has discussed using Antonelli to provide Russell with a slipstream or tow on Monza’s long straights, potentially giving Russell an additional advantage in the fight for pole.
For Russell, the opportunity could hardly be bigger.
A strong result at Monza would allow him to cut into Antonelli’s championship lead, particularly if the Italian struggles to recover through the field on Sunday.
Verstappen refuses to disappear
Verstappen also remains firmly in the picture.
The Red Bull driver struggled with balance and downforce during Friday’s running, but recovered sufficiently to finish third in FP3. That improvement could make Red Bull a genuine threat during qualifying and the race.
FP3 also produced one of the session’s most dramatic moments when Hamilton and Verstappen came close to contact near the Parabolica.
The two drivers offered different versions of the incident over team radio, with Verstappen blaming Hamilton while the Ferrari driver argued that he had been blocked. Stewards noted the incident.
With such small margins at the top, another flashpoint between the championship contenders could have major consequences.
Norris remains a threat
McLaren cannot be discounted either.
Norris finished fifth in FP3 after winning the previous two Grands Prix in Hungary and the Netherlands. The reigning world champion trails Antonelli by 83 points and could make further progress in the championship if Mercedes and Ferrari take points away from one another at Monza.
McLaren’s recent momentum means the team could still upset the Mercedes-Ferrari battle when qualifying begins.
What comes next at Monza?
Russell has now topped both Friday’s FP2 and Saturday’s FP3, giving Mercedes a clear early advantage at the Temple of Speed.
But the final practice order does not guarantee pole.
Hamilton is within striking distance, Verstappen has recovered from a difficult Friday, Ferrari has brought an engine upgrade, McLaren arrives with two consecutive victories, and Antonelli’s Mercedes could potentially sacrifice qualifying position to help Russell.
And with the top 12 separated by less than a second, the smallest mistake could completely reshape the front of the grid.
Qualifying is therefore where the real answers begin.
Russell has delivered the warning.
Now Hamilton, Verstappen, Norris and Ferrari have a chance to respond—and with Antonelli starting Sunday’s race from the back, the fight for pole could be worth far more than just the first position on the grid.
WWC ONE MEDIA M.J.E
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