The British driver George Russell, of Mercedes, recorded the best time in the third and final free practice session of the Grande Prêmio of Austrália of With a time of 1min19s053, he topped the timesheet and beat second place by more than six tenths. The session took place this Saturday and was marked by interruptions, including a strong crash involving Russell’s teammate.
Free practice session 3 started with a delay of around 20 minutes due to repairs needed on the track following an incident in a support race. The drivers took advantage of the time available to make final adjustments to their car configurations before qualifying. Russell left his fastest lap on soft tires for the final minutes and set the new best time of the weekend so far.
The Mercedes demonstrated good performance throughout the weekend, with emphasis on its pace in long stints on Friday. The team’s engineers worked on new aerodynamic configurations to adapt the car to the 2026 rules. The result puts the team in a favorable position for the search for pole position and a good starting grid.
Strong knock interrupts session and worries Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli, Russell’s teammate in Mercedes, suffered a heavy collision towards the end of the session. The driver lost control of the car at the exit of turn 2 after losing traction on the curb and hit the protective barrier hard. The impact damaged all four ends of the single-seater, including the front and rear.
The crash caused an immediate red flag and paralyzed activity on the track. Equipes rescue and inspectors were called to assess the situation and remove the wreckage. Antonelli got out of the car on his own and was taken to the medical center for routine examinations.
The Italian driver was released without serious injuries, but the car suffered extensive damage. The mechanics at Mercedes began urgent repair work to try to have the vehicle ready for the qualifying session, which takes place a few hours later. Engenheiros analyze telemetry data to understand the causes of the incident.
Mercedes’s performance draws attention at the beginning of the 2026 era
Russell’s leadership in FP3 reinforces Mercedes’s good moment at the beginning of the season with the new technical rules. The Briton completed 23 laps during the session and showed consistency across different tire compounds. Lewis Hamilton, now in Ferrari, finished in second place with 1min19s669, followed by Charles Leclerc in third place.
Other pilots faced difficulties approaching the Russell time. The difference to its rivals indicates that the German team may have found a good balance in the car. Rival teams such as McLaren and Ferrari had solid performances in previous sessions, but Mercedes stood out in FP3.
Aerodynamic testing carried out over the weekend helped the team refine the package for Melbourne conditions. The street circuit requires high aerodynamic load and traction on corner exits, areas where the silver car seemed competitive.
Albert Park circuit requires precision in final adjustments
Albert Park hosts the season opener since the return of the calendar in 2022, with changes to the route over the years. The track combines long straights with technical sectors, which requires a balance between maximum speed and stability in the curves. The teams used the free sessions to collect data on the new regulations.
Drivers reported variations in grip due to track temperatures and wind. Saturday’s session had similar conditions to those expected for Sunday’s race. The interruption caused by the Antonelli crash limited track time for some competitors.
The classification defines the grid for the main race, which takes place on Sunday afternoon at Melbourne local time. The teams prioritize fast lap performance, but they also consider the race pace demonstrated on Friday.
High expectations for classification after interrupted training
The qualifying session gains extra importance after Russell’s performance in training. Mercedes seeks to capitalize on the advantage seen in FP3 to gain leading positions. Repairs to Antonelli’s car add pressure to the team.
Other teams adjust strategies based on times seen. The significant gap opened by Russell could force rivals to take more risks in the search for fast laps. The final result of FP3 serves as a reference for expectations for the rest of the weekend.
The Grande Prêmio of