Leclerc completes practice sweep for Ferrari in Baku FP3

Charles Leclerc ensured Ferrari completed a practice clean sweep for Formula 1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix by setting the fastest time in FP3.

Following a truncated day of running on Friday, with opening practice cancelled after George Russell hit a loose manhole cover, Leclerc once again set the pace heading into qualifying on Saturday to top all three practice sessions in Baku.

The Monegasque driver posted a 1m41.604s to finish 0.198s ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel, who completed another Ferrari one-two, while Max Verstappen was an encouraging third-fastest for Red Bull-Honda, albeit 1.248s off the pace.

Mercedes once again struggled to match the pace of Ferrari as Valtteri Bottas ended up fourth-quickest and nearly 1.5s adrift of Leclerc, while reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton was a tenth further back in fifth.

Daniil Kvyat turned in an impressive lap to get within two tenths of the Mercedes duo and take sixth spot in the timesheets, ahead of the Haas of Kevin Magnussen and Toro Rosso teammate Alexander Albon, who also shined on his way to eighth.

Sergio Perez was ninth-quickest for Racing Point, ahead of the lead Alfa Romeo of Kimi Raikkonen, who rounded out the top ten.

Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo was next up in 11th, ahead of Antonio Giovinazzi - who will drop 10 places from wherever he qualifies after changing power unit components - and the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz in 13th and 14th respectively.

Just 0.004s separated Lance Stroll in 15th from Nico Hulkenberg, while Romain Grosjean struggled for pace as he wound up a lowly 17th.

18th-placed Robert Kubica outpaced Williams teammate Russell, who returned to action after being forced to sit out of FP2 while the British squad carried out a chassis change due to the heavy damage he sustained in his FP1 incident.

The second Red Bull of Pierre Gasly propped up the order at the bottom of the timesheets, with the Frenchman set to start from the Baku pitlane following his penalty for missing the weighbridge in FP2.