P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Final practice at the Australian Grand Prix has teased a fascinating Formula 1 qualifying session with Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes separated by less than a tenth of a second
The final practice session at the Australian Grand Prix highlighted a close battle among Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes, with the top three teams separated by less than a tenth of a second. Red Bull, despite dominating the first two rounds in 2024, faces a challenge in qualifying due to potential weaknesses over a single lap. Charles Leclerc set the pace for Ferrari, showing strong performance on both medium and soft tires. Mercedes, following a tricky Friday, showed improvement in FP3, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth fastest, closely followed by teammate George Russell. The session indicated a potential shift in the competitive landscape for qualifying, with Mercedes and Ferrari posing a threat to Red Bull’s dominance. Outside the top 10, attention was on Alex Albon, who replaced his injured teammate and aimed for a points finish on Sunday.
