Bahrain GP: Antonelli puts Mercedes on top; edges Red Bull duo

Kimi Antonelli led the final practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, clocking a time of 1m36.302s in his upgraded Mercedes W17. This performance marked a significant improvement for Mercedes after a challenging Friday, where Antonelli and George Russell struggled to find pace, finishing second and fifth in the first practice session.

In the final session, Antonelli initially lost the top spot to Charles Leclerc and Isack Hadjar but reclaimed it with his impressive lap. Verstappen's Red Bull secured second place, while Russell and Leclerc rounded out the top five. McLaren continued to face difficulties, with Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing seventh and eighth respectively, over a second behind Antonelli's benchmark.