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2021 Formula 1 French Grand Prix session timings and preview

Formula 1 travels to Paul Ricard this weekend for the French Grand Prix. Here's the full schedule for the seventh round of the 2021 F1 season.

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF90 and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15 at the start of the race

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF90 and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15 at the start of the race

Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Located at Le Castellet near Marseille, Circuit Paul Ricard brought France back on the F1 map after a decade-long absence in 2018.

However, the latest configuration of the Paul Ricard circuit hasn't proved to be popular with fans, with both the 2018 and the '19 race failing to deliver exciting action. Last year's event was called off due to COVID-19.

But while the circuit has proved to be notoriously difficult for overtaking in recent years, the recent form of title protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen leaves the door open for a thrilling on-track contest between the two.

Paul Ricard could also serve as an important barometer in the title fight, with both Red Bull and Mercedes keen to find out how competitive they would be relative to each other at a more conventional track, after the tide shifted towards the former at street circuits.

Although Mercedes is expected to bounce back after failing to finish on the podium for two races in a row, Red Bull can now count on Sergio Perez, who finally appears to be accustomed to the RB16B after a five-race learning period.

Mercedes, meanwhile, will need Valtteri Bottas to step up his game if it is to bridge the 26-point gap to Red Bull in the constructors' standings.

2021 Formula 1 French Grand Prix session timings in different timezones

Session

GMT

BST

CEST

ET

PT

AEST

JST

IST

FP1

09:30

10:30

11:30

05:30

02:30

19:30

18:30

15:00

FP2

13:00

14:00

15:00

09:00

06:00

23:00

22:00

18:30

FP3

10:00

11:00

12:00

06:00

03:00

20:00

19:00

15:30

Qualifying

13:00

14:00

15:00

09:00

06:00

23:00

22:00

18:30

Race 

13:00

14:00

15:00

09:00

06:00

23:00

22:00

18:30

2021 Formula 1 French GP session timings in the UK/Portugal 

Friday 18th June 2021

  • Free Practice 1: 10:30 - 11:30 BST
  • Free Practice 2: 14:00 - 15:00 BST

Saturday 19th June 2021

  • Free Practice 3: 11:00 - 12:00 BST
  • Qualifying: 14:00 - 15:00 BST

Sunday 20th June 2021

  • Race: 14:00 - 16:00 BST

2021 Formula 1 French GP session timings in Europe

Friday 18th June 2021

  • Free Practice 1: 11:30 - 12:30 CEST
  • Free Practice 2: 15:00 - 16:00 CEST

Saturday 19th June 2021

  • Free Practice 3: 12:00 - 13:00 CEST
  • Qualifying: 15:00 - 16:00 CEST

Sunday 20th June 2021

  • Race: 15:00 - 17:00 CEST

2021 Formula 1 French GP session timings in the US

Friday 18th June 2021

  • Free Practice 1: 05:30 - 06:30 ET / 02:30 - 03:30 PT
  • Free Practice 2: 09:00 - 10:00 ET / 06:00 - 07:00 PT

Saturday 19th June 2021

  • Free Practice 3: 06:00 - 07:00 ET / 03:00 - 04:00 PT
  • Qualifying: 09:00 - 10:00 ET / 06:00 - 07:00 PT

Sunday 20th June 2021

  • Race: 09:00 - 11:00 PT / 06:00 - 08:00 PT

2021 Formula 1 French GP session timings in Australia

Friday 18th June 2021

  • Free Practice 1: 19:30 - 20:30 AEST
  • Free Practice 2: 23:00 - 00:00 AEST

Saturday 19th June 2021

  • Free Practice 3: 20:00 - 22:00 AEST
  • Qualifying: 23:00 - 00:00 AEST

Sunday 20th June 2021

  • Race: 23:00 - 01:00 AEST

2021 Formula 1 French GP session timings in Japan

Friday 18th June 2021

  • Free Practice 1: 18:30 - 19:30 JST
  • Free Practice 2: 22:00 - 23:00 JST

Saturday 19th June 2021

  • Free Practice 3: 19:00 - 20:00 JST
  • Qualifying: 22:00 - 23:00 JST

Sunday 20th June 2021

  • Race: 22:00 - 00:00 JST

2021 Formula 1 French GP session timings in Africa

Friday 18th June 2021

  • Free Practice 1: 11:30 - 12:30 SAT / 12:30 - 13:30 EAT
  • Free Practice 2: 15:00 - 16:00 SAT / 16:00 - 17:00 EAT

Saturday 19th June 2021

  • Free Practice 3: 12:00 - 13:00 SAT / 13:00 - 14:00 EAT
  • Qualifying: 15:00 - 16:00 SAT / 16:00 - 17:00 EAT

Sunday 20th June 2021

  • Race: 15:00 - 17:00 SAT / 16:00 - 18:00 EAT

2021 Formula 1 French GP session timings in India

Friday 18th June 2021

  • Free Practice 1: 15:00 - 16:00 IST
  • Free Practice 2: 18:30 - 19:30 IST

Saturday 19th June 2021

  • Free Practice 3: 15:30 - 16:30 IST
  • Qualifying: 18:30 - 19:30 IST

Sunday 20th June 2021

  • Race: 18:30 - 20:30 IST

Can’t find your country or region in the list? Check the Formula 1 schedule page for the broadcast times in your local timezone.

Pirelli tyre allocation for the French Grand Prix

Pirelli is bringing the C2, C3 and C4 compounds from its tyre range to Paul Ricard. These are a step harder than what was last seen at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

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