Mercedes’ George Russell is heading into Formula 1’s first qualifying session of the year with the fastest time as he topped a derailed FP3 session at the Australian Grand Prix.
Russell and Mercedes finally showed their hand with a brutal last-minute flyer to head Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
The start of the session was delayed by 20 minutes due to barrier repairs prompted by a crash in F3 and it would be interrupted again with two red flags, one for an early stoppage by Williams’ Carlos Sainz, and late red flag for a smash by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli in Turn 2.
Hamilton had been leading the early running in Albert Park when Sainz ground to a halt at pit entry on his…