Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Alpine say that the problem that stopped Esteban Ocon in final practice was a high-pressure fuel-pump failure. Parts have been replaced and the car is ready for qualifying.

Image source, Getty Images

When you open the history books for Baku, Charles Leclerc's name is listed as starting on pole position at the last three Azerbaijan Grands Prix.

However, Leclerc's Saturday excitement has so far not translated into joyous Sunday scenes, as the 26-year-old has only ended up on the podium once - a third place last year - from his trio of poles.

Instead, Leclerc had to stand by and watch reigning world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez - the only driver on the current to win here twice - celebrate the race victory.

Image source, Getty Images

We've heard plenty of radio messages from George Russell so far this weekend flagging issues galore with his Mercedes. He even found himself in the run-off area during this morning's third practice session.

But the Briton threw his hat into the ring for a possible shot at pole position with a marker 0.013 seconds quicker than that of three-time polesitter Baku Charles Leclerc, albeit on a track that was rubbered in more than when the Ferrari driver set his hot lap on the softs.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello again, folks.

Third practice was peppered with two red flags as Ollie Bearman hit the barriers in the Haas and Alpine's Esteban Ocon came to a halt, before George Russell put his Mercedes top of the pile ahead of Charles Leclerc's Ferrari and the McLaren of Lando Norris.

The timesheets were once again tantalisingly close, with the big four all in with a shout of claiming pole position today.

Qualifying for tomorrow's 51-lap race gets under way at 13:00 BST.

Commentary is online-only, so you'll need to click the 'listen live' tab at the top of this page to tune in. You can also listen via most speakers. Just ask BBC Sounds to play Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying and Ben Edwards, former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestly and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson will be there waiting for you.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes driver George Russell narrowly beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to fastest time in final practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Russell was just 0.013 seconds quicker than the Ferrari. The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri third and fourth ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The session sets up an intriguing qualifying session as Formula 1 season heads into its final third with the championship potentially coming to the boil.

Verstappen still has a comfortable 62-point lead over Norris but the McLaren driver has closed in over the last two races at the average he needs to catch the Dutchman by the end of the season - just under eight points a race.

And McLaren have decided to “bias” their management towards Norris for now to see if they can make further inroads into Verstappen’s lead.

Verstappen was 0.125secs slower than Norris in the session, while the Briton was 0.223secs slower than Russell.

But Russell’s lap was set slightly later than Leclerc’s and the track is improving almost by the minute.

Behind Verstappen, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, the Williams cars of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes completed the top 10.

Baku has been a scrappy start for George Russell but the Mercedes driver finishes in the best seat in the house before the all-important qualifying session.

Haas and Alpine will probably have to work through the break to get Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon into shape for this afternoon's pole fight, but we can all go and have a stretch and some breakfast right now.

Qualifying goes green at 13:00 BST. We'll be back for build-up at 12:45 BST.

See you shortly.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I'm very excited for this afternoon because it's very difficult to call, it's still going to be a little bit of tweaking and turning up engines.

We know Red Bull definitely do that when it comes to qualifying, so they don't show their hand entirely at this point in the day.

11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

12. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)

13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

14. Daniel Ricciardo (RB)

15. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

16. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

17. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)

18. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

19. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

20. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:42.514

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.013

3. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.223

4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.235

5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.348

6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.454

7. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.510

8. Alex Albon (Williams) +0.680

9. Franco Colapinto (Williams) +0.724

10. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.787

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

We are not seeing a dominant Red Bull and we've come to expect that in recent times, but I still think there is a bit more to come, typically from Red Bull when they get into qualifying.

Race control are going to investigate that Turn 15 incident of impeding between the Red Bull of Sergio Perez and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz after the session.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The times are nothing between them, I don't think this is the maximum we are going to see through circuit evolution and driver evolution as you build more and more confidence.

The Mercedes has come to life.

George Russell has not had a smooth morning in Azerbaijan but the Briton has crossed the line at the end of the hour to shoot to the top with a time of 1:42.514.

Ben Edwards
F1 commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

This is a good lap by Lando Norris, he is going to be right up near Charles Leclerc no doubt about it.

Norris goes second fastest, we've got a wonderful battle up there.

Lando Norris tries his luck in the final moments of this this practice session to push down Charles Leclerc on the timesheets but his latest soft run is only good enough for second place.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz is not happy with Sergio Perez, telling his Ferrari pit wall it was a close one as the Red Bull driver was right in his path on a quick lap.

While George Russell tries to wrangle in his Mercedes, Charles Leclerc is enjoying a happy time in the Ferrari. The Monegasque driver has bettered Oscar Piastri's time by 0.185 seconds and leads the pack with just over five minutes to go.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I was hoping for a little bit more for Mercedes around here, I was thinking it could be a bit of an opportunity for them, particularly with the cooler temperatures, that really suits the way that the Mercedes uses it's tyres.

"The ride feels terrible down the straight under braking."

George Russell had to twiddle his thumbs in the Mercedes garage yesterday as his car struggled with engine issues and now the Briton is having a torrid time in today's final practice session, jumping on the team radio after taking to the escape road to flag further problems.