2022 French Grand Prix Predictions & Race Preview

MilosNS
July 21, 2022
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F1 French Grand Prix

Track Preview – Circuit Paul Ricard

From 2009 to 2017, France didn’t host a single Formula 1 race, and it’s likely that it won’t be on next year’s calendar.

The contract is still not signed, and Formula 1 wants to make room for the race in Las Vegas. Because of all this, it is very possible that this will be the last Formula 1 race at the Paul Ricard circuit.

Apart from the main straight, there is plenty of room for overtaking between turns 6 and 10. These will mostly be places where the drivers will make their moves.

Since its return in 2018, every time, this race has been won by the driver who qualified first. That’s why the result on Saturday will be extremely important here. The circuit length is 5,842 kilometers, and the scheduled distance is 53 laps. The track has 15 turns and two DRS zones.

Leclerc is getting closer to Verstappen

In the last two races, Charles Leclerc has achieved a better result than Max Verstappen. The gap between the best two drivers is 38 points now, and Leclerc will try to reduce it even more, this weekend in France.

Verstappen was excellent at the Paul Ricard circuit last year. In addition to winning the race, he was first in qualifying and had the fastest lap. After the races in France and Hungary, there will be a four-week break, and the Dutchman wants to go on vacation with a big margin.

Likewise, Leclerc is aware that he must prevent this if he wants to maintain realistic ambitions in the battle for the championship title. Ferrari looked very good in Silverstone and Spielberg, and there is no reason why that shouldn’t be the case in France as well.

Is it time for Sainz to become driver number two in Ferrari?

Ferrari allowed Carlos Sainz to beat Charles Leclerc at Silverstone. Team boss Mattia Binotto decided that both drivers would have equal status, but everyone in the paddock and around this team thinks that must change.

After retirement in Austria, Sainz is now 75 points behind Verstappen, and it is hard to imagine that he’ll be able to join the race for the championship title. That ship has sailed for the Spaniard, and he should now help his teammate to achieve something big for Ferrari.

Leclerc still has a realistic chance to become the first Ferrari champion since Kimi Raikkonen back in 2007. The only question is, will Binotto continue on the same path or will he make the only correct decision for his team? We’ll probably get the answer on Sunday.

Prediction

Pick: Red Bull driver to win race – YES
Odds: 1.90
Bookmaker: 22Bet

After weak performances at Silverstone and Spielberg, Verstappen is highly motivated to get back on track. The Dutchman showed last year that this circuit in France suits him well, and this track should suit Red Bull more than Ferrari as well.

Given that there is no big difference in odds between „Verstappen to win“ and „Red Bull driver to win“, the second option is the better one to take. Sergio Perez has been six times in top2 this year, and it’s not unthinkable that he can celebrate in France, especially if something breaks down in Verstappen’s car.

Advices & Tips

Pick: Valtteri Bottas in Top 10 in race – YES
Odds: 1.73
Bookmaker: 22Bet

Valtteri Bottas had a great start of the season, but in the last four races he scored points only once. He finished 11th twice, which means he was close both times. There is no doubt that he will be in contention for top 10 again and there is good value in this bet.

Pick: Lewis Hamilton in Top 3 in race – NO
Odds: 1.65
Bookmaker: 22Bet

In the last three races, Lewis Hamilton finished third three times. However, this wouldn’t be the case if we hadn’t seen a large number of retirements. It will be difficult for Hamilton to be that lucky again and fourth place is maximum for him if 3 of 4 drivers from Ferrari and Red Bull don’t have problems with their cars.

Schedule

Friday

First free practice: 14:00-15:00
Second free practice: 17:00-18:00

Saturday

Third free practice: 13:00-14:00
Qualifying: 16:00-17:00

Sunday

Race: 15:00-17:00

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Author MilosNS

MilosNS is our senior content writer, SEO guru, and first ever tipster who started working with us, and he is still here. He is a well-known name in the sports betting industry, and his knowledge about anything betting related is vast. If you have any questions, or doubts, MilosNS has the answer for you.

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