Hamilton completes practice sweep ahead of qualifying - FP3 results and summary

Lewis Hamilton topped the third and final practice session ahead of the weekend, continuing his fine form from yesterday. Title rival Sebastian Vettel finished a close second with Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen showing how much Ferrari had improved overnight in a curtailed FP3 session.

The session started with a track that was officially declared wet but that didn't stop Nico Hulkenberg from venturing out straight away before being joined by some of the main contenders looking to get their eye in ahead of qualifying.

Kimi Raikkonen initially set the pace, leading the pack and his teammate in P1. Hamilton struggled to find the balance that he had enjoyed so much yesterday, reporting back to the team he was suffering from vibration in his tyres.

The weather began to turn however, with many drivers reporting rain around various parts of the circuit as strong winds hit Suzuka ahead of qualifying. The weather forced everybody back into the pits as they played a waiting game for the bulk of the rain to pass over.

Mercedes was the first to blink and sent their cars back out on the circuit, Valtteri Bottas reporting that the track was still very wet and boxed briefly after a tentative installation lap.

Drivers did start to find improvements however, Vettel managing to set fastest sector times despite the tricky conditions, both Ferrari drivers having moments off-track after exploring the limits a little too much, Raikkonen fortunate to keep his car out of the barriers after a trip across the gravel.

The final ten minutes did see qualifying simulations take place, the sun starting to peek through the grey clouds above the circuit and on his first qualifying run, Hamilton went fastest for the first time in the session despite struggling with his car most of the session.

The gap up top much narrower than it had been yesterday, Mercedes' main gain being in sector one but Ferrari look much stronger than they had done yesterday through sectors two and three which may set-up a surprise battle for pole having looked a million miles away in practice one and two.

Red Bull found improvements late on, Max Verstappen able to go P4 after a dismal practice yesterday. Daniel Ricciardo only managing P6.

The supersoft tyres look as though they will only last one flying lap making it crucial that drivers nail their first attempts if they don't want to use another set.

Late on, Hulkenberg hit the barriers hard bringing out the red flag with two minutes remaining in the session. The German got onto the grass through the esses section at the start of the lap, pitching the Renault round and into the barriers.

It meant the session was over two minutes early, Hamilton leading the way once more as we head into a crucial qualifying hour. Ferrari looks to have found pace overnight.

#F1 - Results of the last free practice session of #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/0kEQfF5216

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