Bottas fastest in final practice at Tuscan GP, Hamilton 3rd.

 Fastest in both sessions on Friday, defeating Red Bull Max Verstappen by just .017 with Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton .083 back from Bottas in third place in warm and sunny conditions.

Hamilton leads Bottas by 47 points after winning five of the first eight races in his bid to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of seven Formula One titles. Later on Saturday, Hamilton will seek a first place at No. 95 to set a record.

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas completed his sweep in the Tuscan Grand Prix when he scored the fastest time in his third and final training before qualifying later on Saturday.

Hamilton appeared ready to beat Bottas when he led the split the first time, but fell back in the second and third divisions. Then Verstappen went out for one final round late in the session and split two Mercedes at an encouraging sign for Red Bull at a circuit with super-speed corners.

Lance Stroll finished fourth in Racing Point, using Mercedes engines, while Pierre Gasly was fifth but pushed a bit late and off the track. The Frenchman won the Italian Grand Prix last Sunday to claim his first victory in Formula One.

While Charles Leclerc was the seventh fastest in final training, Sebastian Vettel was a frustrated 18 at an already owned Ferrari circuit that he tested recently in June. Read more