Mercedes’ George Russell fastest in final Barcelona GP practice
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Mercedes' George Russell in action on June 13, during the practice session for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- George Russell topped final practice for Mercedes in Barcelona with a 1:15.679 lap, leading two of three sessions before qualifying.
- Championship leader Kimi Antonelli faced traffic issues in practice, finishing seventh, expressing frustration. He seeks his sixth consecutive win.
- Oscar Piastri was second, followed by Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, and Verstappen. Russell trails Antonelli by 68 points after six rounds.
AI generated
BARCELONA - George Russell lapped fastest for Mercedes in final practice for Formula One’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on June 13, while championship-leading teammate Kimi Antonelli hit traffic and was only seventh on the timesheets.
Russell, 68 points behind the 19-year-old Italian after six rounds and with no points from his last two races, went around the sunny Circuit de Catalunya with a best time of one minute 15.679 seconds.
The Briton will now go into qualifying after topping two of the three practice sessions.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, 2025’s winner from pole, was 0.214 slower with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third.
Reigning champion Lando Norris, fastest overall on June 12, was fourth quickest for McLaren with Lewis Hamilton fifth for Ferrari and Max Verstappen sixth for Red Bull.
Antonelli, who will be chasing his sixth win in a row on June 14, was slowed by traffic on a qualifying simulation.
“Why do I always get traffic?! I don’t understand, everyone always in the lap,” he said, as he decided to return to the pits after a lap that was compromised early on by the positioning of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. REUTERS
