Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the fastest time in the third and final free practice session of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix, in 1 min 32 sec 272/1000th, on Saturday, ahead of the two Ferrari drivers, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, faster than him on Friday.

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The reigning world champion, winner last year on this circuit, had to switch to a set of soft tires to get ahead of Sainz by 354 thousandths and Leclerc, winner in Austria two weeks ago, by 637 thousandths, thus improving almost three tenths the best mark on Friday, by the Spaniard.

For his part, Quebecer Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) had to settle for 18th place.

Verstappen is 38 points ahead of Leclerc in the championship standings at mid-season, after 11 out of 22 rounds.

Behind Verstappen and the two Scuderia drivers, it was Lewis Hamilton, winner in the Var in 2018 and 2019, who achieved the 4th fastest time in this very lively session, ahead of the other Red Bull driver, Sergio Pérez, and the other Mercedes driver, his compatriot George Russell.

In the top 10, Fernando Alonso made a nice recovery for Alpine by taking 7th place, ahead of the surprising Alex Albon whose Williams is equipped this weekend with a series of visibly successful aerodynamic improvements.

Just after the start of this session, Sainz, already penalized ten places on Friday, was informed that he would start from the last row of the starting grid on Sunday due to the change, out of quota planned per season, of all the components of the hybrid engine of his Ferrari.