Nico Hulkenberg moved his Sauber kick up of the time on the average tire with a 1m 13.916, but almost found the barrier in the last corner being locked up, before going and joining unscathed.
Hamilton slipped into second position on the soft tires, but the Ferrari driver complained that “the rear slides a lot” during the radio before the times soon starts to tumble while the main runners took the circuit.
Lando Norris posted a 1m 12.970 on the softs, before his knees were beaten by Friday Pacesetter Leclerc while the Max Verstappen Red Bulls and Yuki Tsunoda jumped in the third and fourth on the 20 -minute brand.
Exclusive: Newey on improving the “ “ “ Aston Martin, being a “hit” and focusing on 2026
Leclerc and Norris quickly engaged in their own personal duel, while the driver of McLaren reaffirms himself at the top with a 1m 12,347, Leclerc then set a new reference of 1m 12.199, before Norris immediately responded and improved by less than a tenth.
The reigning world champion Verstappen then asserted himself at the top, the first man of the day to dive below the barrier 1m12s while the Red Bull driver posted a 1m 11.961 with the average tire.
He lowered this further, first to 1m 11.653, then 1m 11.233, the latter a time that was faster than the best of Leclerc from Friday when the session reached its point of the road.
The qualification simulation races have taken place in the last 15 minutes, most of the drivers carrying out push, recharge and push, Verstappen reporting “I have no grip” on the soft tire after having failed to improve its remaining towers.
With just over five minutes to play, Leclerc returned to the top on a 1m 11.179 on the soft tire before the Ferrari driver fixes a 1 m 10.953, which would end as a reference while the red flags stole with a little less than two remaining minutes.
