French GP: Charles Leclerc pips Max Verstappen to fastest time in Practice One

Charles Leclerc surges to top of timesheet late in opening practice session at Paul Ricard to edge Max Verstappen; watch the French GP all live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend, with Practice Two starting at 4pm

Charles Leclerc was fastest for Ferrari in Practice One

Charles Leclerc maintained his momentum in the world championship battle to beat title rival Max Verstappen to the fastest time in Practice One at the French Grand Prix.

Leclerc registered a time of 1:33.930 for Ferrari at Le Castellet’s Paul Ricard Circuit to outpace Verstappen’s Red Bull by less than a tenth of a second, building on the momentum he created by winning in Austria two weeks ago.

Leclerc’s team-mate Carlos Sainz, who is facing a grid penalty in Sunday’s race after taking a new Control Electronics following his engine failure in Austria, was third.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was fortunate to avoid the wall after spinning off during first practice ahead of the French Grand Prix.

Almost a full second back from Leclerc in fourth was George Russell for Mercedes, who were without Lewis Hamilton for the opening session as Nyck de Vries deputised for the seven-time world champion to fulfil the team’s young driver testing obligations.

Pierre Gasly took a surprise fifth for AlphaTauri as he impressed at his home race, while the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez was sixth after narrowly avoiding the wall after a dramatic spin at Turn 3.

More to follow…