Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fastest in final practice for the showcase Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday with Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton struggling in seventh for Mercedes.
Verstappen, 14 points behind the Briton after four races, lapped the tight metal-fenced street circuit with a best time of one minute 11.294 seconds and 0.047 ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.
ALSO READ: Wary Charles Leclerc ready to end home blank in Monaco
Monaco local Charles Leclerc, fastest in Thursday's practice for Ferrari, was third on the timesheets and 0.258 off the Dutch youngster's pace.
Grid position is critical for Monaco, where overtaking is almost impossible, and Hamilton appeared to be in some difficulty.
The seven-times world champion, winner from pole last time Monaco hosted a race in 2019 and before the COVID-19 pandemic, was 0.726 off the pace.
ALSO READ: Max Verstappen is getting under Lewis Hamilton's skin, says Red Bull boss
"Unfortunately, it looks to be game over for Mercedes. They just don't have the grip out there and can't get the tyres to work," commented Mercedes' 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg on Sky Sports television.
"They are really up against it. They are stuck, they are in a corner, and I don't have too much hope for them at the moment for qualifying."
Hamilton's team mate Valtteri Bottas was fourth, with Mexican Sergio Perez fifth for Red Bull and Lando Norris sixth for McLaren.
The Flying Dutchman makes his mark 🚀@Max33Verstappen goes fastest with a 1:11.294#MonacoGP 🇲![CDATA[]]>🇨 #F1 pic.twitter.com/B2ZONprdMV
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 22, 2021
The hour-long session was brought to a close by Mick Schumacher crashing his Haas at the exit to Casino Square.
The chances of Schumacher's mechanics getting the badly damaged car ready in time for afternoon qualifying looked remote.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Will Max Verstappen be able to get the better of Lewis Hamilton in Monaco?
"I don't know what to say, I'm very sorry about that," said the German rookie over the team radio.
Canadian Nicholas Latifi had earlier crashed his Williams, bouncing off the kerb and into the barriers and halting the session with 17 minutes to go while the car was removed.
Reuters