Mayra Madrigal
The French GP will be held from July 22 to 24 at the Paul Ricard Circuit, located in Le Castellet. This will be the 12th race of the 2022 Formula 1 calendar. The drivers and teams will be forced to improve their performance in order to maintain or enter the fight for the championships, considering that the summer break is approaching.
Red Bull and Ferrari are neck and neck for the Constructors’ Championship, and, unless something very strange happens, that will remain the case. On the other hand, there are teams that have been bidding from further back, and although they may be far from the top positions, their improvement is quite noticeable.
The French GP marks the second part of the season, and the teams will have to find the best strategies to face the rest of the races.
Picks and Predictions for the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix
Where: Paul Ricard Circuit
Date and Time: July 24, 2022, 6:00 AM Pacific time
Favorites
Max Verstappen: (Quota +110)
The top favorite to win the French GP is the Dutch driver, Max Verstappen. The reigning world champion was unable to give Red Bull victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, and has now gone two races without a win. However, he continues as the leader of the Drivers’ Championship, which gives him the vote of confidence that he can come out on top here.
Charles Leclerc: (Quota +137)
After seven races in which he was unable to win, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc managed to win the Austrian Grand Prix, putting him back in the fight for the title of the highest category of motorsport. He is in with a chance to win again and close the gap to Max Verstappen. In addition, Ferrari has made improvements and has won the last two races, so the Scuderia has a chance to win the French GP as well.
Lewis Hamilton: (Quota +850)
British driver Lewis Hamilton is waking up after a lousy start to the Formula 1 season. He has four podium finishes after 11 races, and all of them were third places. He has been on the podium in the last three races, and that opens up the chances that this could be the race that gives him his first victory in the 2022 season.
Sleeper Picks
Sergio Checo Pérez: (Quota +2000)
The Mexican driver, who competes with Red Bull, had problems with his car in the Austrian GP and was forced to abandon the race. This caused him to lose the second position in the Drivers’ Championship, where he was competing directly against his teammate. However, he could bounce back this weekend, and if he doesn’t get a win, he would at least give his team points to continue leading the Constructors’ Championship.
Carlos Sainz: (Quota +2000)
Carlos Sainz retired from the Austrian GP after his car was engulfed in flames. He has been doing a good job with Ferrari and has already achieved his first victory at the British GP. However, on several occasions, luck was not on his side, and he has not been able to keep up when he has been at the top of his game.
George Russell: (Quota +1600)
British driver George Russell is the one who has stood up for Mercedes this F1 season, and is expected to do so again at the French GP. He has finished 10 of the 11 races contested and in all of them he finished in the Top 5, so he has been the most consistent driver and the only thing he lacks is a victory this season.
Black Horse
Fernando Alonso (Quota +17500)
The Spanish driver, Fernando Alonso, who is part of the Alpine team, has improved lately and could be a surprise at the French GP. Although 17 years have passed, he really knows what it is like to win on this circuit, since in 2005 he achieved the first place. He has shown his experience and has made great comebacks, and although he is not fighting for the Drivers’ Championship, he could be a surprise.
JefeBet Prediction
Max Verstappen is not only the current champion and the championship leader, but also the last driver to be victorious at the Paul Ricard circuit. Although he has two races without a win, he is the driver with the most victories so far, enough merit to be the favorite in the French GP.
