Behind Leclerc in eighth, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was ninth fastest, with Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg rounding out the top 10 from British Haas driver Oliver Bearman.
In the official news conference between the sessions, Alpine’s de facto boss Flavio Briatore cast doubt on Colapinto’s future at the team.
The Argentine was signed as reserve driver from Williams over the winter and replaced Australian Jack Doohan in the French team from the sixth race of the season but has failed to impress.
Asked what he needed to see from Colapinto for him to retain his seat, Briatore said: “I see everything already. I don’t need to see anything any more.
“It’s difficult. For this driver, it’s very difficult to cope with this car. These cars are very, very heavy, very quick. And for a young driver to put in Formula 1, maybe it was not the timing to have Franco in Formula 1. Maybe he needs another year or two to be part of Formula 1.
“And I know that, in the end, what is important is the result. He tries very hard. He tries very hard with the engineers to please them in everything, but it’s not what I expect from Colapinto.”
