FP3: Bottas tops session as rain interrupts running

F1 Grand Prix, GP France, Circuit Paul Ricard

Valtteri Bottas topped the timesheet at the end of FP3, thanks to a reasonable quick installation lap early on in the session. As rain arrived 10 minutes later, no one was able to improve on the dry times, with just a few venturing out on track to get a feel for the wet track.

Most drivers were out early to get an installation lap done in dry conditions. Just three minutes later, Ricciardo already reported "a couple of drops on my visor".

Some tried out the wet conditions, including both McLaren and Williams drivers, but as Hulkenberg pointed out, drivers only have 3 sets of full wet tyres available, "so we need to save them a little bit". Indeed, more rain is expected, with qualifying or the race likely to be influenced by water.