Lewis Hamilton lapped fastest in final free practice for the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday, with teammate George Russell making it a Mercedes one-two at the top of the timesheets.
The seven times world champion, who was fastest in Friday's second practice and could take a record sixth win at Monza on Sunday, set a time of one minute 20.117 seconds with Russell 0.093 slower. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was third and McLaren's Oscar Piastri fourth.
Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen complained of a lack of front grip and lapped only sixth fastest, with his closest rival Lando Norris fifth for McLaren.
Norris, winner in the Netherlands last weekend, is 70 points behind Verstappen with nine races remaining. Carlos Sainz, on pole at Monza last year, was seventh and the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto were eighth and ninth with Haas's Nico Hulkenberg completing the top 10.
Meanwhile, Mercedes have signed 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli to replace Hamilton next year, the Formula One team racing team said on Saturday. Italian Antonelli, who has won one sprint and one feature race for Prema Racing in Formula Two this year, will join George Russell at Mercedes, with Hamilton switching to Ferrari.
Antonelli said the move up was a dream come true and thanked the Mercedes team for supporting him and having faith in him. "Reaching F1 is a dream I've had since I was a small boy... I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity," he said in a statement.
"I'm also really excited to become George's team-mate. He came through the team's junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for ... I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track."
Russell said he was excited to partner with Antonelli. "I know how much of a support Lewis was for me throughout my time as a junior driver and since I've been his team-mate. I've learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi," he said. Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said Russell and Antonelli were the perfect line-up for the team to begin its next chapter.
"Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport," he said.
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