UPDATED: The Formula 1 World Championship has reached round seven of the 2021 season and France is the next stop for the racing circus.
Mercedes have vowed to transfer their Baku anger into a strong result at this weekend's French GP as the world champions, amid a fierce battle with Red Bull, bid to bounce back from their worst two-race stretch in nine years.
A gripping Formula 1 2021 campaign - which is playing host to competitive title duels between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, and Mercedes and Red Bull - intensifies from this weekend's race at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France, the first of three Grands Prix in as many weeks.
The current campaign has started off with a bang, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton going toe-to-toe with Red Bull star Max Verstappen, with the Dutchman leading the way by four points. However, both drivers had an afternoon to forget last time out in Azerbaijan. Verstappen suffered a 200 mph tyre failure down the start-finish straight and his hopes ended when he was catapulted into the wall on lap 46.
As a result, the safety car was deployed and the race was eventually stopped, promoting Hamilton up to second for the restart. The Brit got the better of Sergio Perez going into turn 1 as the lights went out but accidentally turned his brakes off on the downshift and suffered a severe tyre lockup, demoting him to the back of the field. Neither driver ended up scored points.
But with the next race at the Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France, there is a chance for redemption for both Hamilton and Verstappen to claim some precious points for their teams as F1 nears the halfway point of the season.
When and Where to watch French GP?
The French GP will be live streaming on Sunday at 6:30 Pm IST on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD. The practice race will start from Friday.
Live Coverage of each and every lap will on our Website starting from 6:15 Pm IST. Also coverage of Qualifying will be done on Saturday (Timing will be updated here).
What do we know about French GP Circuit?
Work began on pastis magnate Paul Ricard’s track in 1969, with French racers Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Henri Pescarolo acting as consultants on the layout. Racing began at the circuit a year later. Formula 1 hit the Circuit Paul Ricard in 1971, with Jackie Stewart winning the inaugural race in his Tyrrell 003.
The Circuit Paul Ricard’s even distribution of high-, medium- and low-speed corners is a key reason why it’s one of the most used test circuits in the world (the typically good weather is another). F1 drivers love the 290km/h right-hander at Signes and the 5g joyride of the following Beausset bend, while the circuit’s 2018 return to the F1 calendar showed that the French Grand Prix track is a bit of an overtaking gem.
Schedule
What are our predictions?
Taking the Baku GP into consideration, here is who various bookmakers think will take the chequered flag first in Le Castellet:
- Lewis Hamilton: 5/4
- Max Verstappen: 6/4
- Valterri Bottas: 8/1
- Charles Leclerc: 30/1
- Sergio Perez: 10/1
- Carlos Sainz: 70/1
- Lando Norris: 25/1
So it seems that Hamilton is leading the way as far as pre-race predictions are concerned, and not many have faith in Ferrari as a whole to pull off a surprise result at the French Grand Prix.
That being said, there was a surprise result in Baku with Aston Martin's Sebastien Vettel and Alphatauri's Pierre Gasly making the podium.
Funnier things have happened in the sport.
You can find all of the latest Formula 1 News and Results right here at Automotives.Tech
>-by Amaan Attar
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