F1 French GP qualifying predictions & free Formula 1 betting tips

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's Formula 1 French Grand Prix qualifying session at Paul Ricard.

Where to watch

Practice three Sky Sports F1, midday Saturday
Qualifying Sky Sports F1, 3pm Saturday

Best bet

Charles Leclerc fastest qualifier
2pts 10-11 general

Qualifying preview

Carlos Sainz was fastest on the opening day of action at the French Grand Prix weekend, but the Spaniard won't be starting from pole position whatever happens on Saturday.

The British Grand Prix winner was heading for second place in Austria last time when his engine exploded spectacularly, and unsurprisingly Sainz has picked up a grid penalty for changing engine parts.

As it stands the Ferrari driver will drop ten places, but the team may well opt to take a complete fresh power unit and have Sainz start from the back - the same as they did with teammate Charles Leclerc in Canada.

Leclerc ended a frustrating run of results with victory in Austria - his first since April's Australian Grand Prix.

The Monegasque racer trails world champion Max Verstappen by 38 points in the standings, and practice form suggested the Dutchman is in good shape to build on that advantage at Paul Ricard.

However, while the Red Bull looked in better shape over a long distance, the Ferrari had the better single-lap pace and even at odds-on Leclerc looks the best bet for pole.

It has been a pattern this year that the driver starting from the front finds his tyres giving up on him during the race, leading to the bizarre stat that Verstappen has won more races in which Leclerc started on pole than the Ferrari ace has won himself.

As ever there was little to choose between the pair in practice but Leclerc had the edge and has made a habit of pulling out a bit extra on the final runs in qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton gave up his seat for first practice to rookie driver Nyck de Vries but the seven-time world champion - racing in his 300th F1 weekend - was fifth fastest in the afternoon.

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