MELBOURNE (AFP) – Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton clocked the fastest time in the third and final free practice session ahead of qualifying for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday.
The Briton, bidding for a sixth world title to move within one of Michael Schumacher’s record seven, followed up his pace-setting times on Friday to post a blistering one minute 22.292 seconds around Melbourne’s Albert Park.
Running on soft tyres, he was the last car out but immediately posted a fast lap and traded times with Ferrari arch-rival Sebastian Vettel.
The German four-time world champion, who has won in Australia for the past two years, finished second on 1:22.556, two-tenths of a second ahead of new teammate Charles Leclerc.
