World champion and leader Max Verstappen (Oracle Red Bull Racing) managed to control the French GP which took place at the Paul Ricard Circuit, Sunday (24/7/2022).
Having had a few laps overshadowing Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari), Verstappen was no longer touched by other drivers after lap 19. Including the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 duo, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
For Verstappen, this is the seventh victory from 12 races that have been held at the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship. Success at Paul Ricard also made Verstappen defend his title at the French GP.
The main podium at the Paul Ricard Circuit was also Verstappen's 27th victory in the 130 Grand Prix he participated in with Red Bull Racing.
Most importantly, this success in France also stopped the winning streak made by Ferrari drivers in England (Carlos Sainz) and Austria (Charles Leclerc).
"We're just trying to stay calm and try to be stable close to the front riders. Leclerc was unlucky, I wish him well," Verstappen said after the race.
"I continue to pay attention to the condition of the tires from the start to the end of the race," said the Dutch racer who is also the 2021 F1 world champion.
Meanwhile, Sainz was chosen as Driver of The Day aka Best Driver following his impressive performance. Starting from the 19th grid due to the change of the Ferrari 066/7 engine, the Spaniard managed to finish P5, just behind Sergio Perez (Red Bull).
As for Mercedes, Hamilton and Russell's scores were the first double podium finishes in F1 this season.
As soon as the start lights went out, pole-sitter Charles Leclerc immediately shot forward. The Scuderia racer was closely affixed by Max Verstappen in second position.
Leclerc could not continue the race after his car hit the wall on lap 18. Leclerc's retreat made Verstappen take first place in the race.
Until lap 25 of the 53 laps of the race, Verstappen still led, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez in second and third place.
On lap 30, Carlos Sainz made an impressive maneuver by crushing George Russell from the outside ahead of the Signes area to take P4. Six laps later, Sainz narrowed the gap with Perez in P3 to approximately 0.7 seconds.
Until lap 40, Verstappen looked solid at the top with a lead of about 8 seconds over Hamilton in second and about 10.8 seconds over Perez in third. On lap 42, Sainz managed to bulldoze Perez on the main straight for P3.
As soon as the start lights went out, pole-sitter Charles Leclerc immediately shot forward. The Scuderia racer was closely affixed by Max Verstappen in second position.
Leclerc could not continue the race after his car hit the wall on lap 18. Leclerc's retreat made Verstappen take first place in the race.
Until lap 25 of the 53 laps of the race, Verstappen still led, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez in second and third place.
On lap 30, Carlos Sainz made an impressive maneuver by crushing George Russell from the outside ahead of the Signes area to take P4. Six laps later, Sainz narrowed the gap with Perez in P3 to approximately 0.7 seconds.
Until lap 40, Verstappen looked solid at the top with a lead of about 8 seconds over Hamilton in second position and about 10.8 seconds over Perez in third position. On lap 42, Sainz managed to bulldoze Perez on the main straight for P3.
French GP F1 Results
Finish
1. Max Verstappen NED Oracle Red Bull Racing 53 Laps2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team + 10,587s
3. George Russell GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team + 16,495s
4. Sergio Perez MEX Oracle Bull Racing + 17.310s
5. Carlos Sainz ESP Scuderia Ferrari + 28.872s
6. Fernando Alonso ESP BWT Alpine F1 Team + 42.879s
7. Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team + 52.026s
8. Esteban Ocon FRA BWT Alpine F1 Team + 56.959s
9. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren F1 Team + 60.372s
10. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team + 62.549s
11. Sebastian Vettel GER Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team + 64.494s
12. Pierre Gasly FRA Scuderia AlphaTauri + 65.448 s
13. Alexander Albon THA Williams Racing + 68.565s
14. Valtteri Bottas FIN Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen + 76.666s
15. Mick Schumacher GER Haas F1 Team + 80.394s
Unfinished
Guanyu Zhou CHN Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen DNFNicholas Latifi CAN Williams Racing DNF
Kevin Magnussen DEN H aas F1 Team DNF
Yuki Tsunoda JPN Scuderia AlphaTauri DNF
Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari DNF