Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

George Russell headed final practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

Russell led the Australian by 0.214 seconds, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third fastest ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.

The first four cars were covered by 0.246secs, while Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari in fifth was 0.702secs back, and the seven-time champion was asking his engineer why he was “so far off”.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was seventh fastest after not managing to complete a representative lap because of traffic.

The Italian was held up by gaggles of cars on two separate push laps towards the end of the session - once at Turn One and the second time at Turn 10.

McLaren appear to be in better shape than for the past two races on this track where tyre degradation is always an important factor.

But Red Bull, as they feared, are struggling in the long-duration medium and high-seed corners around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Mercedes are the pace-setters as usual, but the question before qualifying and race is whether McLaren or Ferrari can challenge them, and whether Antonelli can make up what appears to be a deficit to Russell at this track so far.

George Russell will feel confident going into qualifying this afternoon after topping third practice, but we've also seen his younger team-mate Kimi Antonelli pull a pole lap out at the last minute this season, so it could be a tight battle between the two Mercedes cars, plus the McLarens and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

But the hot temperatures and worries about tyre degradation will be front and centre in the pit lance later on.

Let's park the bus here for now, and then come together at 14:30 BST for buuld-up to qualifying.

Q1 goes green at 15:00.

See you shortly!

11. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

12. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

13. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

14. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

16. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

17. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

18. Alex Albon (Williams)

19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

20. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

21. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:15.679

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.214

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.243

4. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.246

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.702

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.755

7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.821

8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +1.005

9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +1.282

10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +1.341

World champion Lando Norris, after topping practie on Friday, ends his Saturday session in fourth spot, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton is a long way off the top in fifth, 0.702 seconds adrift of George Russell.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen is in the middle of the pack in sixth and title leader Kimi Antonelli, after more traffic woes, has to settle for seventh.

The second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar, Audi's Nico Hulkenberg and Brit rookie Arvid Lindblad for Racing Bulls complete the top 10.

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"Are you kidding me? What kind of understeer is this? Like genuinely, what was that? I never in my life had this but anyway."

Charles Leclerc has slotted into third place, as Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton is preparing for another push lap from fifth spot.

Kimi Antonelli is down in seventh now, his Mercedes team-mate George Russell quickest of the pack with a 1:15.679.

Hamilton can't improve on his P5 time, so he stays seven tenths off the top spot.

Isack Hadjar, meanwhile, is also getting stuff off his chest over the Red Bull team radio in P8...

Abbi Pulling
2024 F1 Academy champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

That's insanely frustrating for Kimi. He's got his tyres in the window, ready for a push lap, got a really good exit out of the last corner. Straight away Lance gets in the way. So he takes that lap to cool, recharges the battery and gets ready to push again and he gets traffic again.

"Oh my god mate, unbelievable. I am going to box."

"Why do I always get traffic? I don't understand"

The Mercedes phone is busy now with Kimi Antonelli venting his frustrations. Race engineer Pete Bonnington tries to calm his young apprentice down, saying he doesn't release the other cars from the garages, but the Italian is annoyed by the amount of traffic in his way.

"Oh my god, Stroll as always."

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completes his flyer on the soft compound but the Ferrari driver is seven tenths away from George Russell's time in fourth.

Kimi Antonelli encounters traffic once again - Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin is the offending car - and the Italian is not please.

He goes again, but the same problem rears its head - a Haas this time blocking his path, causing Antonelli to abort his next flyer.

The top three of George Russell, title leader Kimi Antonelli and reigning world champion Lando Norris are out on track on some soft rubber. Nico Hulkenberg is also winding up for a qualifying simulation after running the medium compound.

Russell crosses the line and improves on his previous lap and stays top. Oscar Piastri has a strong middle sector and goes second, 0.214 seconds off the Mercedes man.

Norris is 0.246secs away from Russell's marker in third.

Image source, Getty Images

Otis: It’s very hard to look past Antonelli for pole but Lewis is starting to put things together nicely and I wouldn’t be surprised if he snatches it.

Kevin: Lando sounds confident and he needs a good result

Abbi Pulling
2024 F1 Academy champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

It's interesting in these first laps to see Russell go so much quicker than Antonelli. This could be maybe a turning point. It's only free practice but this will give Russell a lot of confidence. He was struggling in Monaco, didn't have the pace. It's going to give him a lot of confidence. It needs to be something special from George.

Ed, there is a Tottenham fan in the F1 team - that comment probably cuts deep.

Out on track, Liam Lawson is 11th on the timesheets and has some unusual information for his Racing Bulls engineer, saying the cockpit is feeling a bit dusty and it's getting in his eyes every time he brakes. Lawson is back to the pits so the mechanics can take a look.

Ed: There's one word for Aston Martin; a team which has so many talented people, advanced facilities, deep pockets and dire results..."Spursy."

The brake issue for Cadillac was also present at the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend. Sergio Perez suffered a brake fire in second practice, and now the Mexican is on the radio to ask his pit wall what's going on with his team-mate's car.

The red flag for Valtteri Bottas' stricken Cadillac is now cleared, so cars begin to file back out on to the track. George Russell is quickest, Kimi Antonelli is two tenths behind in second and world champion Lando Norris is third on the timesheets.