[akash_v12]

The French Grand Prix returns this weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard.

As usual, the cars take to the track for the first time on Friday for the two one-hour-long free practice sessions. Qualifying takes place on Saturday preceded by the final free practice session. The 61st French Grand Prix to count towards the World Championship gets underway on Sunday. It runs over 53 laps, equivalent to 309.69 kilometres.

Schedule



Track

The layout used for Formula 1 since 2018, when the Grand Prix returned to the calendar after a ten-year break, is 5.842 kilometres in length with 15 corners. The first sector is the quickest and presents the most opportunities for overtaking, especially immediately after the start line, going into Turn 1 and at the exit of Turn 3. Good power and performance from the engines is a clear requirement in the second sector, featuring the Mistral straight and turns 8 and 9 where the cars are pushed to the limit. In the third sector, aerodynamic downforce is again the main factor: immediately after Signes, one of the fastest and most evocative corners on the calendar comes a tighter section featuring fast and slow sections where traction is key. There are two DRS zones: one on the main straight and the other between turns 7 and 8, in the first part of the Mistral straight.

Tyres





Weather



2021 Championships

Drivers



Constructors



2019 Results

[RM Motorsports]

The French GP India Broadcast Schedule is here!

[Fiestaboy]

With normal tracks coming back into picture, we can expect Merc to be in the top spot again.

It will be great for us, if Redbull worked on thermal degradation of tyres in low drag scenarios & give a tough fight with Merc. The rear wings will be more stiffer now, owing to the new directives released. We will see the impact /gain Redbull, Ferrari got with the technical advantage they reaped weeks before with the so called "bendy" wings.

I hope Perez's nature of saving tyres give him crucial advantage in the following 3 weeks to help them fight with Merc, as I see Max's tyres are eaten us quickly compared to Perez.

[Chetan_Rao]

The run-off area striped painjob is giving me a bad headache. Good idea to have graded abrasive surfaces to replace gravel traps though.

[Red Liner]

Read this on a comment on YouTube after FP 1.

Kerbs are red
Run offs are blue
Back to normality
Mercedes 1 and 2

LOL!

[shibujp]

Red Bull on pole again after a stonking lap by Verstappen. However after being down in the dumps for the better part of free practice Hamilton came good in qualifying to beat Bottas to P2.

Bottas looked strong all weekend with the chassis swap seemingly working well. In fact he looked to be the stronger of the two Mercedes drivers right upto Q3. But I think he looked good to beat Perez to land up in a RB sandwich.

McLarens's look good with both qualifying in the top ten. Riccardo will sure sigh with relief. Alonso is the wild card in the top 10 managing to land up in 8th ahead of Leclerc.

Sainz ended up the stronger of the Ferrari drivers in qualifying.

Vettel after the high of last week in Baku could not get into Q3. and ended up 12th. Seems he made a mistake somewhere based on his statement over the pit radio. But he will have the benefit of tyre choice which came good for him in Baku.

Mick Schumacher was surprisingly able to drag the Haas into Q2 though his crash towards the dying seconds of Q1 may have ensured his stay there as at least a few drivers denied their laps thanks to his crash. I assume Mick may not be a favorite with Gunter given the budget cap in place. But good of him to drag that car into Q2. May want as much slots between him and his teammate perhaps.

Starting Grid




Turn 6 seems to be catching out quite a few drivers in practice. I hate the colored gravel stripes too. It's tough on the eyes and maddening!

Drive on,
Shibu

[SILVER-ARROW]

Stunning lap from Max ensured him claiming the pole. Mercedes splitting both the redbulls will ensure we have exciting start tomorrow.

Kudos to Pierre Gasly for plonking the car on 6th position, the guy is consistently making Q3 and qualifying higher up the grid.

Originally Posted by shibujp

Starting Grid

Shibu

Was surprised to see the qualifying time of max Verstappen. He was the only one who made it below 1 minute :30 seconds. Then realized the timing were of Q1 .

[speedmiester]

What a cat and mouse race this was. A good fight up front and in the midfield as well.

Good Win by Max and Redbull. A well deserved win after the first corner mistake.

Mercedes should have pitted when possible to counter the attack from the RedBull.
The gap for the driver championship is extended further.

An edge of the seat race.

I am sure, there will be more such races this season.

[Chetan_Rao]

Merc really need to get more nimble on strategy. Got outmaneuvered by Red Bull, not just upfront but with the second car too. Red Bull keeping Perez out long enough to split strategies and Perez making it work.

It's to Hamilton's credit it got that far.

[VRJ]

MAX MAX MAX SUPERMAX MAX MAX . What a brilliant drive by Max. I was jumping when he overtook Hamilton in the penultimate lap. Payback to Barcelona. Brilliant strategy by RedBull. Although Hamilton was very good and I wonder how he was able to keep up the pace throughout the race with only one change. Bottas was soo frustrated, rightfully so. He was probably one of the first to say this was a two stop race. Not sure what has happened to Ferrari today. Charles and Sainz lost 7-9 places during the race. I was expecting better pace. This season is promising for sure. A title fight is what we wanted and RB has delivered.

Cheers!

[Emvi]

You beauty! What a drive from Verstappen!
Undoubtedly, last few laps were the most exciting part of the race. Red Bull couldn't have asked for more, snatching P1 and P3 from Mercedes in the dying moments of the race.

[shibujp]

Hamilton and Toto look as if they are attending a funeral at the podium ceremony.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by shibujp

Hamilton and Toto look as if they are attending a funeral at the podium ceremony.

what a race and what a come back from Red Bull. I think every single person in the grandstand wanted Max to win.

[iamahunter]

WHAT A RACE this was!!!!

Absolutely fantastic!

SUPER MAX was SUPER FANTASTIC! and so was Perez!

Driving + RB Strategy gave the 1 & 3 to Redbull.

If it were a couple of more laps, it would have been a 1-2 for RB as Lewis had almost ran out of tyres.

The point that Bottas had asked for a 2 stop strategy and Merc didn't go that way hints that there might be friction in the team.

Ferrari's seemed slow today, especially after the brilliant pace in last 2 races. However Mclarens were wonderful, glad to see Riccardo coming up to pace.

Overall a very satisfying race for the RedBull fans like me.

[Red Liner]

I think Merc listened to Lewis a little too much this time, and decided to go with a one stopper after he didn't complain as much. The trouble is it was Lewis' word over Bottas.

This is going to bite them hard. The next two races are at the Redbull home circuit. Red Bull will be throwing everything at their home GP to bring home the silverware.