AFP with Melanie Faure
modified to
8:32 p.m., July 24, 2022
Dutchman Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix at the Castellet circuit this Sunday. He won ahead of the Mercedes of the British Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, strengthening his lead in the F1 world championship. A crowning achievement for the second consecutive year.
Everything smiles in the Netherlands this Sunday. After Lorena Wiebes who won the yellow jersey on the first stage of the Tour de France Women, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) won the Grand Prix de France this Sunday. The driver thus ahead of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, taking the lead in the F1 world championship.
The Monegasque Charles Leclerc, second in the championship and started from pole position, retired after an accident while leading the race on the Castellet circuit. He is now 63 points behind Verstappen.
@Max33Verstappen wins the 2022 French Grand Prix!
For the second year in a row, the Dutch team @redbullracing finished on the first step of the podium
Well done Max! #FrenchGP#SummerRace#F1pic.twitter.com/WT1CAVBGps
— French F1 Grand Prix (@GPFranceF1) July 24, 2022
This is the second year in a row that Max Verstappen has won the French Grand Prix.
Ferrari and Red Bull neck and neck
This season, only Ferrari manages to compete in performance with the Red Bull. When his drivers finish the races… Before this 12th round out of 22, Leclerc had 38 points less than Verstappen and remained on a victory in Austria. He leaves France 63 units behind. A hole.
The Monegasque was however on the right track to continue in the French south-east, after having dominated the qualifications on land which saw him learn to drive in karting.
“It is very frustrating”
A blow for Charles Leclerc. “It’s just a mistake on my part. It’s very frustrating,” the Monegasque driver explained to journalists after his accident on the 18th lap out of 53 on the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet.
Starting from pole position, Leclerc is still 2nd in the championship but is now relegated to 63 points behind the Dutchman from Red Bull because of this exit from the track forcing him to retire.