Verstappen 25, Leclerc 0: the accounting operation is perfect for Max Verstappen, who takes the lead in the Formula 1 world championship following his victory at the French Grand Prix on Sunday, where his rival retired following an accident.
Like an air of 2021, Verstappen was ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) on the Castellet circuit. This time however, the Brit did not have the weapons to fight once morest the mighty Red Bull.
This season, only Ferrari manages to compete in performance with the Red Bull. When its drivers finish the races…
Before this 12th round out of 22, Leclerc had 38 points less than Verstappen and remained on a victory in Austria. He leaves France 63 units behind. A hole.
The Monegasque was however on the right track to continue in the French south-east, following having dominated the qualifications on land which saw him learn to drive in karting.
Starting off very well, Leclerc calmly led the race, certainly under pressure from the Dutchman. But on the 18th loop of the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet, he lost control of his Ferrari, spinning out of bounds and ending up in the safety tires at low speed.
His cries of frustration following leaving the track reassured him regarding his state of health. But Leclerc, like the many Scuderia fans in the stands, should be inconsolable following this new disillusionment in the title race.
Seeming hot, in radio communication, to question his single-seater, the pilot then put forward a pilot error to explain this exit.
“If at the end of the championship I’m missing around thirty points, I’ll know it’s my fault. I have to get back on top if I want to be world champion,” he said.
Rid of his main rival, Verstappen quietly took the lead. He was never threatened and was able to afford a second victory in a row in France. His seventh victory of the season, already. And the 27th of his career, at only 24 years old.
– Hamilton 2nd for his 300th Grand Prix –
Like last year, he was ahead of Lewis Hamilton. But for the Briton, this 2nd place has another meaning this year.
The 37-year-old seven-time world champion has yet to win a race following 12 rounds, a first in his F1 career which began in 2007, the fault of a Mercedes not at the level of the best.
But, leaving like a missile to overtake Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) at the start, the 6th in the championship confirms that he is in good shape with a 4th podium in a row.
For his 300th Grand Prix in F1, he offers his best place this season and a 187th podium, of course a record. And his team-mate George Russell gave Mercedes a first double podium this season, overtaking Pérez at the very end of the race.
Behind, Carlos Sainz, who started 19th due to an engine change beyond the quota of three authorized per season, was able to move up to 5th place. He is still 4th in the championship with a point ahead of Russell.
In front of “their” stands full with 70,000 spectators (200,000 over the weekend, a record), the French Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) finished 8th and 12th.
This edition was the last of the contract started in 2018 between F1 and the French Grand Prix, which then returned to the calendar following ten years of absence.
In 2023, France, like Belgium or Monaco, which have not yet renewed their partnership either, might disappear from the program or be offered a rotation, from one year to the next.