As the times kept on tumbling – before another red flag was thrown in the closing stages owing to a trackside fire – it was Norris who had set the fastest time on a 1m 27.965s, putting him 0.026 clear of Piastri, while Russell was one-tenth back from Norris in third.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton put their Ferraris in fourth and sixth respectively, while sandwiched between them was Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver – along with Piastri – will be investigated after the session for allegedly failing to follow the Race Director’s instructions.
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Williams’ Alex Albon, the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, Red Bull debutant Yuki Tsunoda and Hadjar completed the top 10, with Sainz just missing out in 11th. Behind the Williams man was Racing Bulls’ returnee Liam Lawson, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, Doohan and the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.
Ollie Bearman was P16 for Haas, ahead of fellow rookie Gabriel Bortoleto – who pulled off a big save following a moment in his Kick Sauber late on – with Haas’ Esteban Ocon, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and the other Kick Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg rounding out the order.
The drivers and teams will now have a final chance to debrief before the grid for Sunday’s race is decided in Qualifying, with the session set to get underway at 1500 local time.
