In the “Gilles Villeneuve” F-Series, contested by F1 cars from 1977 to 1981, Michael Lyons once again put his Hesketh 308E through its paces, as he had done in free practice on Friday. With a time of 1:32.079, he got the better of his compatriots Miles Griffiths, in a yellow Fittipaldi, and Stephen Shanly, in a 1980 Tyrrell 010 entered by the French AGS Racing team. It was a 1-2-3 for British drivers, ahead of an excellent Jonathan Cochet in another Fittipaldi “100% made in Brazil”. That means two pole position starts on Sunday for Michael Lyons, as well as Stuart Hall, who also doubled up in the G-Series.

This G-Series carries the “Ayrton Senna” label throughout the weekend, with single-seaters built between 1981 and 1985, all powered by naturally-aspirated 3-litre engines. As a supreme privilege, these 28 cars can stay permanently in the F1 pits all weekend long. And just like Saturday morning, Stuart Hall made his presence felt in a March 821. With a time of 1:30.762, he pushed Marco Werner (Lotus 87B) one second and a half back, and Michael Lyons (Lotus 92) almost two seconds back. He too will start from pole position twice on Sunday.

Saturday also saw a number of F1 stars visit the paddock, starting with Charles Leclerc, the driver from Monaco, and Lando Norris, who won his first F1 Grand Prix in Miami last Sunday in a McLaren. On Friday, Fernando Alonso was spotted on Quai Antoine 1er, visiting his former boss at McLaren, Zak Brown, entered in a Williams FW07 of the F-Series. Other famous Monegasque residents may be there on Sunday, as F1 takes a break this weekend. One thing is for sure: there will be 8 top-class races between 8am and 6pm, in glorious sunshine.