Antonelli pips both Ferraris in final Monaco Grand Prix practice

Mercedes Kimi Antonelli has topped the timing boards in the final practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix, pipping both Ferraris.

Feature image credit: Mercedes

Antonelli has become the third fastest driver around Monaco, after Ferrari’s clean sweep on Friday, as the Italian pipped both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the timing sheets.

In the early minutes of the session, it looks like business as usual from the Ferrari garage – based on their early performance – with Leclerc and Hamilton trading places.

However, when the final meaningful laps came in on the soft compound tyres, it was Antonelli who had the final word. The championship leader became the first driver of the weekend to put together a lap-time to breach through the one-minute 12’s.

By the end of the session, Antonelli beat Leclerc and Hamilton by three tenths of a second, with the two Ferrari drivers finishing second and third, respectively.

Embed from Getty Images

Antonelli’s teammate, and closest championship rival, George Russell, completed the session down in fourth, sandwiched between the Ferraris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The session didn’t go without a red flag, though, making it the third consecutive session this weekend, so far. This came after Haas’ Oliver Bearman crashed out in the second half of the session.

As Bearman passed Russell, who was off the racing line, on the run up Beau Rivage, the Briton lost control of his Haas as it slid underneath him. The Haas’ rear wing collided with the barrier and slid along to a stop at Massenet. Bearman claimed responsibility for the incident.

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur to miss Saturday running after medical checks

So, where did everyone finish the final hour of practice?

FP3 standings:

1. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – 1m 12.72s
2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +0.327s
3. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari +0.331s
4. George Russell, Mercedes +0.763s
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing +0.942s
6. Oscar Piastri, McLaren +0.978s
7. Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi +1.1s
8. Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing +1.157s
9. Lando Norris, McLaren +1.286s
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Audi +1.330s
11. Esteban Ocon, Haas +1.558s
12. Carlos Sainz, Williams +1.616s
13. Pierre Gasly, Alpine +1.76s
14. Oliver Bearman, Haas +1.767s
15. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +1.867s
16. Alexander Albon, Williams +2.081s
17. Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls +2.198s
18. Sergio Perez, Cadillac +2.225s
19. Franco Colapinto, Alpine +2.459s
20. Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac +2.731s
21. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +2.847s
22. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +3.201

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur to miss Saturday running after medical checks
• McLaren fined for technical breach at Monaco GP
• Hamilton tops second practice at Monaco Grand Prix
• Charles Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2 at Monaco Grand Prix practice
• Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc summoned to stewards ahead of Monaco GP
• Why the Monaco Grand Prix Two-Stop mandate failed
• Charles Leclerc extends contract with Ferrari ahead of Monaco GP

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.