F1 practice LIVE: Max Verstappen targets top spot on the timesheets as French Grand Prix weekend gets underway

LIVE – Updated at 11:57

Follow live F1 coverage as the French Grand Prix weekend kicks off with free practice sessions one and two at Circuit Paul Ricard. Charles Leclerc reignited his world championship hopes by racing to victory at the Austrian Grand Prix last time out as team-mate Carlos Sainz emerged unscathed from his Ferrari after it caught fire. Leclerc passed championship leader Max Verstappen three times to claim his first triumph since he took the chequered flag in Australia on April 10. Verstappen finished second after Sainz’s engine expired with 14 laps remaining.

Sainz’s retirement allowed Lewis Hamilton to take third with Mercedes team-mate George Russell fourth despite an opening-lap collision with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.

At the half-way mark, Verstappen has a 38-point lead from Leclerc in second, while Perez - who retired from last Sunday’s race - is third a further 19 points back. The next race is this weekend of 22-24 July at Circuit Paul Ricard at the French Grand Prix; Verstappen won last year’s race, overtaking Hamilton on the penultimate lap.

Free practice one starts at 1pm (BST) on Friday with second practice at 4pm (BST).

Lewis Hamilton will be replaced by Nyck de Vries for the first practice session ahead of the French Grand Prix this weekend. The reigning Formula E champion will get a second taste of Formula 1 on Friday with Mercedes after doing the same for Williams back in Spain.

Under new rules introduced this year, Formula 1 requires teams to allow younger drivers with limited experience time in both of their cars during the season with George Russell set to step aside for a session later in the calendar.

After their much publicised struggles to start the year, Mercedes have been far more