The French election has reached a pivotal moment, declares François Bayrou, the centrist candidate dubbed the “third man” of the presidential race, as he glances out the window of the private jet flying towards his next stop on the campaign trail.

“Until now, candidates have been like Formula 1 racing drivers speeding around a track,” says Mr Bayrou. But voters are no longer “passive spectators”. They are “putting the drivers to the test to decide who they want at the wheel, not of a racing car, but of their children’s school bus”.