The seven-time world champion produced the fastest lap of the weekend so far during the qualifying simulation runs with a 1m16.826s, putting him 0.088s clear oꦯf Verstappen’s Red Bull in the FP3 timesheets.

With less than a tenth splitting Hamilton and Verstappen at the top, it sets up the prospect of a tantalising battle for pole position between 2021’s title protagonists two weeks on from their controversial collision at 🍨Silverstone.

Val༺tteri Bottas had set the pace in final practice heading into the final soft tyre runs, but a mistake at the chicane on his last flying lap left the Finn third and 0.229s down on his Mercedes teammate.

The 60-minute session was interrupted by a hefty crashཧ for Schumacher, who slammed into the Turn 1𓂃1 barriers with 20 minutes to go. The German was unharmed in the incident but is likely to miss qualifying with Haas needing to repair his damaged car.

It was an enc🌳ouraging morning for Ferrari as Carlos Sainz headed teammate Charles Leclerc in fourth, with the duo 0.6s ofꦍf the pace.

Lando Norris took sixth for McLaren, ahead of Sergio Perez, who ended up a disappointing seventh, a full second sꦗlower than his Red Bull teammate.

Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll𝕴 completed the rest of the top-10 order for McLaren, Alpine and Aston Martin.

Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi could find himself in hot water with the stewards after two separate near-misses in final pract🍸ic▨e.

The I🌸talian tagged Lance Stroll after he was released into the path of the Aston Martin driver as they excited the pitlane when the session restarted following the red flag pꦏeriod.

AlphaTauri’s Pie🃏rre Gasly then had to take evasive action to avoid crashing into Giovinazzi at the final corner as he se🧜t himself up to start a fast lap.

Full results from final practice at the 2021 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix.