Sports · 5 September 2026

George Russell tops final Italian Grand Prix practice ahead of Lewis Hamilton

Lukas Raich via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

The Mercedes driver clocked a lap of 1m 22.219s to finish two-tenths clear of his former teammate, who now drives for Ferrari. Max Verstappen took third for Red Bull during a busy Saturday hour that included a tense on-track scrap with Hamilton. Kimi Antonelli grabbed fourth for Mercedes, but an engine penalty means he will start the actual race from the back.

By BriefTea Editorial · 5 September 2026 at 13:30

Reported by Formula 1 · How we write briefs

Get the app

Understand this story

What is 'practice' in F1? Why engine penalties? Who are Mercedes and Red Bull?

More briefs

SportsMan City fans boo league anthems louder after guilty verdict SportsEngland's Kiwi Coach Stephen Fleming Says an Englishman Should Lead Team SportsPSG's Kvaratskhelia Needs Knee Surgery After ACL Rupture SportsPhil Foden Hat-Trick as Man City Thrash AEK Athens 5-1 SportsArsenal reportedly want Club Brugge striker Tresoldi in January, priced at £42m SportsEngland Collapse to 87-Run Defeat by Pakistan More sports stories → Browse all stories →