Le Castellet (France), 24 July 2022 – Hunting for an encore. Charles Leclerc starts in pole position in French Grand Prix from F1. Today at 15 the start of a very important race for the Ferrari. After the triumph in Austriathe Monegasque driver aims to make a full loot again and to shorten the gap in the standings (38 points) by Max Verstappen. “It was a great lap – admitted Leclerc -. I struggled all weekend to put together a lap but I managed it in the end. But I have to thank Carlos (Sainz, ed) for his help. He did a fantastic job. team. Carlos would have been very close. We hope to be able to fight together for the victory. ”
The Dutch driver world record holder will start second in the starting grid from Le Castellet and promises battle. Yesterday in qualifying he had to bow his head in front of the team play of the Cavallino team. The final lap of Charles, arrived using the slipstream of his teammate Carlos Sainz (penultimate on the grid thanks to the change of the engine), it was a masterpiece and allowed the Ferrari driver to sign the seventh pole of the season. In the second row the other Red Bull from Carlos Perezwhile he finished fourth Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
The starting grid
1st row
1. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari in 1’30″872
2. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1’31″176
2nd row
3. Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1’31″335
4. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes 1’31″765
3rd row
5. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1’32″032
6. George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes 1’32″131
4th row
7. Fernando Alonso (Esp) Alpine 1’32″552
8. Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) AlphaTauri 1’32 “780
5th row
9. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) McLaren 1’32″922
10. Esteban Ocon (From) Alpine 1’33″048
6th row
11. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Alfa Romeo 1’33″052
12. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Aston Martin 1’33″276
7th row
13. Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1’33″307
14. Pierre Gasly (Fra) AlphaTauri 1’33″439
8th row
15. Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1’33″439
16. Guanyu Zhou (Chn) Alfa Romeo 1’33″674
9th row
17. Mick Schumacher (Ger) Haas 1’33″701
18. Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1’33″794
10th row
19. Carlos Sainz (Esp) Ferrari 1’31 “081 (penalized)
20. Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas 1’32 “649 (penalized)
Direct
Circuit
In France it runs on the Paul Ricard circuit a Le Castellet. Characteristic route, with equally characteristic escape routes and the track limits will be decisive. Circuit 5,842 meters long and with the fundamental Mistral straight split in two by the Montreal chicane towards the Signes bend with great lateral G force. The circuit alternates long straights with fast corners and slower areas such as the last two corners that lead to the finish straight, or the area that goes from turn 4 to turn 6 before the Mistral. The race will cover 53 laps for a total of 309 kilometers. The record lap belongs to Sebastian Vettel in 1’32 “740 established in 2019.