Leclerc punched in a 1m27.419s prior to a smattering of rainfall, which briefly intensified enough to dampen the circuit and reduce the available grip for the second half of the session.
Early on, Max Verstappen posted a 1m28.836s on the medium compound but came under threat from the Ferrari duo. Neither Leclerc nor Carlos Sainz could match Verstappen in the final sector despite running a softer grade of tyres, Leclerc setting a 1m29.000s to slot into an early second place.
