Game on as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel match Mercedes in qualifying sim – FP3 report. Charles and Sebastian match Mercedes in qualifying sim.

Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc maintained his position atop the timesheets during final practice for Formula 1’s Austrian Grand Prix. The Ferrari racer moved to the front as drivers completed their runs on Soft tyres, before he became the first person to dip into the 1:03s.

Charles Leclerc, having been just 0.010s in front of Lewis Hamilton, extended his advantage to 0.143s with a time of 1:03.987s on his second push lap on the softest tyre compound. Hamilton maintained second spot while Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas claimed third, with the squad having repaired his W10 overnight in the wake of his heavy crash on Friday.

Sebastian Vettel was fourth for Ferrari, ensuring that the leading quartet were separated by just 0.263s.

Red Bull took a low-key fifth and seventh, with Max Verstappen comfortably ahead of team-mate Pierre Gasly, split by McLaren’s Lando Norris, as the Renault-powered squad continued its encouraging form.

Carlos Sainz Jr., who will start from the back owing to a power unit change, was eighth, ahead of Antonio Giovinazzi and the Toro Rosso duo of Daniil Kvyat and Alexander Albon.

Nico Hulkenberg – facing a five-place grid penalty – took 12th, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, while Romain Grosjean was the lead Haas driver, as he split the Racing Point drivers.

Daniel Ricciardo was a subdued 17th, ahead of only Kevin Magnussen and the Williams drivers, with George Russell six-tenths off the Haas driver and Kubica another eight-tenths down at the rear.

Magnussen is poised for a five-place grid penalty due to Haas needing to change his gearbox.

Saturday’s qualifying session is scheduled for 15:00 local time