Valtteri Bottas fastest but Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton within one tenth

Tuscan Grand Prix

Bottas fastest but Verstappen and Hamilton within one tenth

Bottas has topped all three practice sessions at Mugello

Sam Hall

Saturday 12 September 2020 13:13 Updated: 13:20

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Valtteri Bottas narrowly topped final practice for the Tuscan Grand prix with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton within one tenth of the Mercedes driver.

Bottas has topped all three practice sessions at Mugello but a late effort from Verstappen spoiled the Mercedes one-two at the top of the pile.

The one minutes 16.530secs set by Bottas was the fastest time of the weekend, an improvement of four tenths from his Friday efforts, but Verstappen's effort which trailed the Finn by only 0.017s has raised expectations of a competitive qualifying session from the Red Bull driver.

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Hamilton has struggled to match the pace of his team-mate across the weekend so far and ended the session third, but only 0.083s off the pace.

Lance Stroll proved the Racing Point RP20 has pace at Mugello by setting the fourth fastest time, and Sergio Perez further added to the credentials of the team by taking sixth.

Monza race winner Pierre Gasly was sandwiched between the two Racing Point drivers, once again usurping Red Bull driver Alex Albon, who could only manage a time good enough for eighth. Daniil Kvyat was ninth in the second AlphaTauri.

On the occasion of Ferrari's 1000th Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc went seventh fastest, but team-mate Sebastian Vettel once again struggled and could only manage 18th.

To make things worse for the German, only Lando Norris set a time slower, with George Russell confined to the pits after a failure in his brake by wire system.

Romain Grosjean completed the top ten for Haas with a surprise turn of speed.

It was a difficult session for McLaren with Carlos Sainz 11th and Norris 19th, and Renault too struggled with Esteban Ocon 11th and Daniel Ricciardo 17th.

Alfa Romeo drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Raikkonen 13th and 14th.