While the times stopped falling – before another red flag was launched in the closing stadiums due to a fire on the track – it was Norris who had put the fastest time on a 1m 27.965s, putting him 0.026 away from Piastri, while Russell was a tenth from Norris in third.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton put their ferraris in the fourth and sixth, while sandwich between them was Max Verstappen. The Red Bull pilot – with Piastri – will be the subject of an investigation after the session for having allegedly failed to follow the instructions of the race director.
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Alex Albon de Williams, the Alpine by Pierre Gasly, the beginner of Red Bull Yuki Tsunoda and Hadjar finished the top 10, with Sainz who missed in 11th. Behind the man of Williams, the repatriate of the Bulls Liam Lawson, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, Doohan and Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.
Ollie Bearman was P16 for Haas, in front of his compatriot recruit Gabriel Bortoleto – who made a big stop after a moment in his late kick – with Esteban Ocon de Haas, the lance promenade of Aston Martin and the other sauber kick of Nico Hulkenberg completing the order.
Pilots and teams will now have a last chance to debrief before the Sunday race grid is decided in qualifying, the session should start at 1500 local hours.