Daijiworld Media Network - Melbourne

Melbourne, Mar 7: George Russell set the fastest time in the final practice session ahead of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday, while his Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team teammate Kimi Antonelli crashed heavily late in the session.

The 19-year-old Antonelli locked up at turn two of the Albert Park Circuit and slammed into the barrier, sending a front wheel bouncing away from the wrecked car. The crash brought out a red flag and halted the session. Antonelli quickly reassured his team over the radio, saying he was unharmed.

When the session resumed for the final minutes, Russell posted the fastest lap of 1:19.053, finishing 0.616 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton of Scuderia Ferrari. Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc recorded the third fastest time.

Home favourite Oscar Piastri of McLaren Formula One Team was fourth quickest, around a second slower than Russell. The British driver’s lap was also quicker than Piastri’s best time of 1:19.729 from Friday’s second practice.

The session had earlier been delayed by 20 minutes after a crash during the preceding Formula 3 sprint race. It was interrupted again midway when Carlos Sainz Jr. stopped his Williams Racing car at the entrance to the pit lane, triggering another red flag.

Defending world champion Max Verstappen was sixth fastest, one place behind his Red Bull Racing teammate Isack Hadjar.

Elsewhere, veteran Fernando Alonso completed 20 laps for Aston Martin F1 Team but finished only 18th fastest as the team continues to deal with vibration issues that have limited running time. His teammate Lance Stroll did not leave the garage.