Leclerc a tenth ahead of Hamilton, with Ferrari and Mercedes set for qualifying battle; Watch Saturday shootout at 2pm on Sky F1
Saturday 29 June 2019 18:18, UK
An in-form Charles Leclerc topped final practice for the Austrian GP as the young Ferrari driver out-paced Mercedes and his team-mate to lay down an impressive marker before qualifying.
Leclerc, who was also fastest in a crash-heavy P2 on Friday, posted the quickest time of the weekend on Saturday morning and his 1:03.987 saw him finish 0.143s ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
Valtteri Bottas was a tenth further back in the other Mercedes, while Sebastian Vettel was just behind the Finn in fourth.
But the German has plenty of work to do if he is going to reel in his Ferrari team-mate in qualifying, which starts at 2pm on Sky Sports F1.
"On this evidence, Charles Leclerc is very much a candidate for his second pole position in F1 today," said Sky F1's David Croft.
There also looks set to be a fascinating battle between Mercedes and Ferrari in qualifying, as while engine modes are unknown from final practice, the Italian team have been around 10kph faster on the straights and look far more comfortable on the high-speed Spielberg circuit than they were last weekend in France.
Red Bull, however, don't look to be in the battle for pole at their home race.
Max Verstappen enjoyed a trouble-free session following his P2 shunt, but was four tenths off the pace in fifth. His under-pressure team-mate Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, was some way back in seventh after encountering software issues on his Honda engine.
That allowed Lando Norris into the top six, and the impressive British rookie was within a second of Leclerc's leading time. Carlos Sainz, who has an engine penalty this weekend, was eighth, with the resurgent McLaren team enjoying another successful weekend so far.
The improving Antonio Giovinazzi and Daniil Kvyat completed the top-10 for Alfa Romeo and Toro Rosso respectively.
Renault's Spielberg struggles continued in final practice with Nico Hulkenberg 12th and Daniel Ricciardo down in 17th, while Haas - who finished fourth and fifth in this race last year - are also up against it.
Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen could only manage 15th and 18th.
The whole Austrian GP weekend is live only on Sky Sports F1. Sunday's race begins at 2.10pm with build-up from 12.30pm. Find out more about Formula 1 on Sky Sports