Picture Credit: Formula 1
With the season drawing close to a halt in the form of the much-anticipated summer break, all eyes are fixated on the two races that lie in front of us: the French GP followed by the action at the Hungaroring.
But as Formula 1 stops by at the land believed to be the birthplace of motor racing, with the earliest event recorded on July 22, 1894- what can one expect from the soon-to-begin French Grand Prix?
SportsTiger is back with its key predictions or as they say, possible outcomes for the impending F1 race at France.
1. Leclerc will pose a strong challenge at winning the French GP
Having scored the seventh pole of 2022, the most by any driver including the reigning world champion Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc is right on top.
And there could not have been a better place from which to begin the long 53-lap run at Circuit Paul Ricard, a tiring venue given its 5.8 plus km length.
Leclerc, in all likelihood, will come under increasing pressure from his number one rival this season: Max Verstappen.
Therefore, the Ferrari driver’s chances of claiming an easy race win look slightly difficult; he’ll be constantly pressured and will require an awesome team strategy to collect the win.
But surely Leclerc can do it. He’s proven just a week ago at Austria that he’s in it to win it, when he deposed Verstappen on Red Bull territory to take his maiden victory at Spielberg.
Can the Monegasque drive past the checkered flag to collect his first win ever at Les Castellet?
Yes, he can. How difficult are the Red Bulls going to make that for the driver of car# 16?
Well, nothing ever comes easy in Formula 1’s grind.
2. Daniel Ricciardo will finish inside points
The famous Australian driver begins his 2022 French Grand Prix from eleventh on the grid.
So far, Ricciardo has been able to outperform his teammate Lando Norris on only two previous occasions where qualifying results stand.
And while the Circuit Paul Ricard didn’t unfurl anything surprisingly different for the struggling Ricciardo, there’s a great possibility of the famous Honeybadger to bounce back strongly on race day.
Ricciardo will not find it particularly difficult to break into the top ten early on on the long and winding race track. He will attempt to make the most out of his McLaren, which so far has been able to assist only Lando Norris where this season stands.
Realising the fact that he’s scored points in only three races this season, the former Red Bull driver will back himself to deliver a strong weekend. Moreover, there’s always the motivation that he can count on having scored a ninth at Austria.
3. Both Ferraris will score points
Carlos Sainz is set to begin the French Grand Prix from the back of the grid. That’s when there’s also a realistic chance of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen occupying that grid slot in line with incurring a penalty.
A lackadaisical ninth in qualifying for the Spaniard didn’t help his fortunes one bit.
Having said that, on race day, Carlos Sainz will make amends for missing out on Saturday and will definitely attempt to help his team scrape through what could be a challenging weekend.
Sainz, at the back of a scintillating Canadian GP drive, which was followed by a maiden race win at Silverstone, arguably the most important F1 moment of his life, has all the confidence he needs to produce an important race result at France.
Should he work on mounting a strong comeback drive from the back of the grid, it will boost Ferrari’s chance of seeing both drivers score very well at Les Castellet.
Leclerc, on his part, will count on nothing else but the reliability of his F-175 to help him clinch a maiden win at France. Having scored yet another pole position will certainly do him a world of good.
4. Lewis Hamilton will mark a memorable 300th Grand Prix
103 race wins, 7 world championships, 6 of which have come with Mercedes and a fifteen-year run in the top-most flight of motor racing- Lewis Hamilton has done it all and has come a really long way.
The most statically successful driver on the current grid is about to embrace a landmark moment of his famous career yet: that of beginning his 300th Grand Prix.
And Lewis’s chances of doing something special in it seem certain given he begins his French GP challenge from fourth on the grid.
An aggressive and bold overtaker who leaves nothing to chance and capitalises on opportunities that come his way, Hamilton will most likely go for the kill come Sunday.
He’ll surely convert his P4 start on the grid into something special, maybe even a podium finish, which should it happen will see Mercedes driver score four podium finishes on the trot.
So, are we going to hear the famous words: “Get in there, Lewis,” upon the completion of the 2022 French GP?