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French Grand Prix, Formula 1 – Qualifying
15:48
German drivers with room for improvement
The free practice sessions didn’t go particularly well for the Germans. Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin doesn’t seem to run at all in France. So the Heppenheimer did not get beyond the last place. Mick Schumacher didn’t go much further forward either. The German finished 19th, almost two seconds behind. A significant improvement is needed for qualifying in order to secure a promising starting position for Sunday. At least Mick Schumacher is confident in the interviews about reaching Q3. Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, doesn’t expect any big leaps in time for qualifying.
15:40
Two grid penalties
However, Carlos Sainz will not have good cards for tomorrow’s race for the time being. After the Spaniard only installed new control electronics, Ferrari announced today that other parts of the engine were also replaced. So he will start the race on Sunday from the last row of the grid. Next to him is a Haas, Kevin Magnussen, because his car has also received new parts in the engine area.
15:33
Ferrari and Verstappen again dominant
In the first two free practice sessions there was no getting around the Ferraris. In the first free practice Charles Leclerc was the fastest man on the track, in the second free practice his teammate Carlos Sainz took his place. In the third free practice session, the Reds were up front, but this time they couldn’t overtake World Championship leader Max Verstappen. With a lap time of 1:32.272, the Dutchman set the best time.
15:22
The race course
A lap of the Circuit Paul Ricard is just over 5.8 kilometers. Nine right-hand and six left-hand turns await the drivers over this distance. Today’s qualifying may be the last one at Le Castellet for the time being, because the contract expires at the end of 2022. Whether and how things will continue in France is not yet known at this point in time. Rumor has it that alternative circuits such as Le Mans or the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours could be added to the racing calendar. A yearly alternating race between France and Belgium would also be an option.
Warm welcome!
At the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Le Castellet, things get really serious for the team and drivers for the first time. Starting at 4:00 p.m., qualifying will be about the best positions on the grid!