Formula 1: At Grand Prix de France, Max Verstappen takes advantage of Charles Leclerc’s misfortunes

The defending world champion won, Sunday, July 24, on the Castellet circuit (Var). In the pilots’ classification, the Dutchman widens the gap on his Monegasque competitor, forced to abandon.

Le Monde with AFP

Verstappen 25, Leclerc 0: The accounting operation is perfect for the Dutchman Max Verstappen, who flies away at the top of the Formula 1 world championship after his victory at the Grand Prix de France, where his rival abandoned after a accident.

Sunday July 24, on the Castellet circuit (Var), the Red Bull driver won the French Grand Prix for the second consecutive time in front of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Max Verstappen easily won the Castellet! 🏆
🇳🇱 The Dutchman takes advantage of the abandonment of Charles Leclerc for… https://t.co/kayjrltwn5

– canalplusf1 (@canal+ f1®)

As in 2021, Max Verstappen was ahead of Lewis Hamilton on the Var circuit. This time, however, the Briton had no arms to fight against the powerful Red Bull. This season, only Ferrari succeeds in competing in performance with the Red Bull. When its pilots finish the races …

Before this 12 in 22, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc had 38 points less than Max Verstappen and remained on a victory in Austria. At the end of the race, he returned to the Principality with 63 units late. A chasm.

The Monegasque was however on the right track to continue, after having dominated the qualifications on the land which saw him learn to ride in karting. Very well left, Charles Leclerc led the race calmly, certainly under pressure from the Dutchman. But, in the 18th e tower, he lost control of his Ferrari, leaving “tailful” of the limits of the track and ending in low-speed safety tires.

His cries of frustration after this exit from the track reassured his state of health. But Charles Leclerc, like the many fans of the Italian stable in the stands, will be difficult to console after this new disillusionment in the title race. 2> “If I miss about thirty points, I would know it is my fault ”

Similar hot, in radio communication, questioning his car, the Monegasque then highlighted a piloting error to explain this outing. “If at the end of the championship I miss about thirty points, I would know that it is my fault. I have to resume the upper hand if I want to be world champion,” he said.

Large his main rival, Max Verstappen then quietly took the lead. Never threatened by other competitors, he was able to afford a second victory in a row in France. His seventh victory of the season, already. And the 27 e

of his career, at only 24 years old.

For Lewis Hamilton, this second place this year has another meaning this year than that of 2021. The seven -year 37 -year -old has not yet won a race after twelve heats, a first in his F1 career started in 2007, the fault of a Mercedes not in terms of the best cars.

Party as a rocket to double at the start Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), the sixth in the championship, however, confirms its current good shape with a fourth podium in a row. For his 300 e Grand Prix in F1, he signs his best place this season and an 187 e podium, a record. And his teammate George Russell provided Mercedes with a double podium this season – a first – by doubling Pérez at the very end of the race.

Behind, Carlos Sainz, who left 19 e due to a change of engine beyond the quota of three authorized by season, was able to go back to fifth place. In front of “their” full stands with 70,000 spectators (200,000 over the weekend, a record), the French Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Pierre Gasly (Alphanauri) ended up ninth and twelfth respectively. “I am extremely disappointed. I still find it difficult to understand why we are so little efficient,” regretted the latter on arrival.

This Grand Prix de France could remain as a decisive turning point in the fight for the title of world champion 2022.

/Media reports.