Baku, September 25, AZERTAC
Max Verstappen denied George Russell a clean sweep of fastest practice times ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as the Red Bull driver finished quickest in Free Practice 3.
The Dutchman finished one-tenth clear of Russell and Lewis Hamilton with a 1m 43.922s on the streets of Baku, during a final hour of practice where drivers pushed the limits ahead of Qualifying later on Friday.
It took until the 20-minute mark for the leading contenders to appear with the soft Pirelli tire, Hamilton posting a 1m 46.168s before he was usurped by Charles Leclerc's 1m 45.564s on the Monegasque driver's second attempt.
Kimi Antonelli and Russell slotted into third and fourth with their first flying laps, but both Mercedes drivers began the final practice session on the medium tire.
While the Mercedes drivers failed to improve, Verstappen set a 1m 43.922s in the final minutes which left him fastest at the chequered flag from Russell, Hamilton and Antonelli.
Leclerc was best of the rest in fifth ahead of Pierre Gasly (Alpine), the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) and Alpine's Franco Colapinto completed the top 10.
Carlos Sainz was P11 for Williams, ahead of Ollie Bearman (Haas), Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Esteban Ocon (Haas), Nico Hulkenberg's Audi and the Cadillac of Sergio Perez.
The order was completed by Alex Albon's Williams, the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin, Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) and Stroll.