Charles Leclerc put Ferrari back on top heading into qualifying after leading final practice at the Russian Grand Prix.
Despite forecasts of rain, conditions were largely dry with only the Astroturf and shaded areas damp from a morning downpour, allowing drivers to head straight out on track.
After a quiet start, the top teams soon emerged with the Monegasque setting the early pace after the first flying laps on the soft tyre.
Mercedes were slow to get into their stride leading to worried messages from Lewis Hamilton but eventually, the significant gap would close as Bottas got to within two-tenths.
Friday leader Max Verstappen would set the most notable lap time though, less than 0.5s back on the medium compound in the Red Bull.
The second set of tyres see Ferrari extend their advantage with Leclerc lowering the benchmark on his second flying lap with a 1m32.733s.
Hamilton jumped into P2 but only briefly as Sebastian Vettel improves on his second attempt to secure the Ferrari 1-2.
Attention turned to Verstappen as he switched to the red-striped tyre.
But a mistake at Turn 2 followed by a spin at Turn 13 ruined both his attempted fast laps as he returns to the pits having failed to set a time on the soft compound.
That left Hamilton in third, three-tenths clear of Sochi specialist and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Haas’ single lap pace appears to have returned with Romain Grosjean claiming ‘best of the rest’ in sixth while Alex Albon struggled for grip in seventh for Red Bull
The battle between Renault and McLaren took a twist on Saturday after it was confirmed the latter would be switching to Mercedes engines for 2021.
On the track, Nico Hulkenberg held a one-tenth advantage over Lando Norris in eighth and ninth while Kevin Magnussen backed up Haas’ improvement in 10th.
Toro Rosso had a mixed session with Pierre Gasly eager to pounce in the fight for Q3 from 11th, but more mechanical issues impacted Daniil Kvyat at his home race, with Honda confirming another new engine would be installed before qualifying.
Daniel Ricciardo’s struggles continue in P12 but for Renault’s sake, Carlos Sainz is also having a tough weekend for McLaren in P13.
Alfa Romeo’s pace might be disappointing, but Antonio Giovinazzi made a point by finishing almost a second clear of teammate Kimi Raikkonen in 14th.
Between them, the two Racing Point’s slipped down after a positive Friday with Lance Stroll’s single-lap weakness showing in 15th and Sergio Perez wrecking two sets of tyres with huge lock-ups into Turn 13.
At the back, Williams remain firmly the slowest team on the grid as George Russell finished 1.1s off the last representative midfield car in 18th.
The Briton though was still a second himself faster than Robert Kubica, who isn’t enjoying his first trip to Sochi.
Full results from Practice 3 can be seen below:
