Formula One champion Max Verstappen has led a Red Bull one-two in final practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, while seven-time leading driver Lewis Hamilton brought the session to an early end by crashing his Mercedes.
Overall leader Verstappen lapped with a best time of one minute 12.776 seconds, 0.073 faster than his Mexican teammate and last year’s Monaco winner Sergio Perez.
The pair have between them won every grand prix this season, with four one-two finishes in five races. Verstappen leads the drivers’ championship by 14 points.
Canadian Lance Stroll was third on the timesheets for Aston Martin, who also had Fernando Alonso down in 14th, but the session was inconclusive as drivers were unable to get in their final flying laps.
“You have to be realistic and see where your car is, we have not led the Red Bulls in any session,” Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack said.
“The advantage they had is not disappearing overnight.”
Hamilton lost the back end of his newly upgraded car at the Mirabeau corner and ended up wedged front-first in the barriers, with the session red-flagged with five minutes to go as marshals brought in a crane to remove the stricken car.
The Briton, who said on Friday he could feel improvements to his car after a trying start to the season, had just set a fastest sector time.
The Mercedes mechanics had an anxious wait as the car was hoisted high above the circuit and nearby trees, tilting alarmingly as it went.
The session, the last F1 track action before the most important qualifying of the season due to the difficulty of overtaking around Monaco’s narrow and twisty layout, was not restarted.
There had also been a virtual safety car period when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas stopped near Portier.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was fourth fastest, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Ferrari’s home hero Charles Leclerc and Hamilton.
Australia’s Oscar Piastri was 19th quickest for McLaren in one minute 13.998.
Leclerc will be chasing his third successive Monaco pole in qualifying.