Lewis Hamilton edged Max Verstappen to lead the final practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The world champion posted a 1m08.320s as teams conducted the final series of soft tyre runs before qualifying at Interlagos.
With conditions a little warmer than on Friday, albeit still largely overcast, it was the Dutchman setting the pace initially for Red Bull ahead of the two Mercedes’.
Sebastian Vettel had looked set for a potentially faster lap but would pit as Ferrari opted to run earlier than their rivals each time.
Hamilton would up the ante though when the second set of soft tyres went on, moving almost three-tenths clear of Charles Leclerc as lap times dropped into the 1m08s bracket.
Verstappen entered the fray again with his second run going fastest of all in the first sector but falling just 0.026s behind the Mercedes in second.
He would follow that up with by ending half a tenth slower on his second lap as Hamilton just held on to hold the lead heading into qualifying.
Leclerc’s bid for a final effort was baulked by a slow McLaren at the final corner on his warm-up lap and after that, the tyres didn’t have enough grip left to improve.
He was still half a tenth clear of teammate Sebastian Vettel in fourth as Ferrari’s superiority from Friday was ended.
Alex Albon was half a second further back in fifth but just ahead of Valtteri Bottas, as the Finn failed to put a clean lap together in the final 15 minutes.
In the midfield, no real pecking order was emerging as drivers who simply put the best lap together jumped to the front of the order.
In practice three, that driver was Daniil Kvyat in seventh for Toro Rosso with Antonio Giovinazzi a strong eighth for Alfa Romeo.
McLaren is still very much in touch, however, as Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz completed the top 10.
The most disappointing performances came from Renault and Haas on Saturday morning as they slipped down the order, filling positions 13-16.
Racing Point also struggled in 17th and 18th as the two Williams’ rounded out the field with George Russell three-tenths clear of teammate Robert Kubica.
Full results from final practice can be seen below:
