Sergio Perez posted the first representative laptime with a 1m15.641s to go top, managing to avoid a stopped Esteban Ocon in the tunnel as the Alpine driver reported a loss of power. The Frenchman returned his car to the pits after a swift reset at the steering wheel, but this forced him to spend the next 20 minutes in the garage.
Pierre Gasly found a glimmer of hope for Alpine by going quicker than Perez, but the Mexican responded with a 1m14.990s to go back to the top - holding firm from the Ferrari duo's first fast laps on softs.
