Formula 1 2021: Red Bull's Max Verstappen finishes top in third free practice
Verstappen, who leads the seven-time Mercedes world champion by four points after six races, topped the times after Friday's second session, and led the way again ahead of qualifying at 1300GMT.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the second free practice for Sunday’s Formula One race, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Thursday, May 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Le Castellet: Red Bull's world championship leader Max Verstappen dominated the third free practice for the French Formula One Grand Prix at Le Castellet on Saturday with Lewis Hamilton almost a second adrift.
Verstappen, who leads the seven-time Mercedes world champion by four points after six races, topped the times after Friday's second session, and led the way again ahead of qualifying at 1300GMT.
Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas got closest to the dashing Dutchman at 0.747s with Carlos Sainz for Ferrari sitting third at 0.938.
Then came Red Bull's winner last time out in Azerbaijan, Sergio Perez, followed by Hamilton at 0.966 completing the top five.
After two disastrous races for Mercedes in Monaco and Baku Hamilton is desperate to bounce back at the Circuit Paul Ricard where he has won from pole the last two times the F1 circus pitched up at the Provencal track in 2018 and 2019.
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