Small Mistake For Leclerc, Giant Leap For Verstappen - 2022 French GP Review

Oh, Charles - what a costly error! One small mistake for Leclerc, a giant leap for Verstappen - the gap in the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship is now a mammoth 63 points!

Earlier in the season, Verstappen was 44 points down on Leclerc; this means that in the 12 races of the 2022 Formula 1 season, Verstappen has pulled 99 points on Leclerc! incredible.

Here's the 2022 French GP preview episode on the Inside Line F1 Podcast.

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In this episode, Soumil and Kunal discuss if Leclerc had the pace to win the 2022 French Grand Prix? Could Carlos Sainz have scored a podium? Was Sergio Perez literally napping at the VSC restart or should Formula 1 investigate further in the software glitch that saw Perez lose a podium finish.

A great result for Mercedes, but one of their most-embarrassing performances in qualifying? We're not sure about the others, but we are definitely alighting the Mercedes hype train.

@f1statsguru is on holiday - but his jaw-dropping stats are with us, as always. Did you know? Red Bull Racing is only an 11 race streak of podium finishes; their highest since 2013!

Lots in this episode, tune in!

(Season 2022, Episode 44)

Follow our hosts: Sundaram Ramaswami, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Circuit Paul Ricard (Facebook)

**French Grand Prix Review**

**Leclerc's Crash and Race Strategy**

- Leclerc's crash was a driver error, and he acknowledged it.
- Leclerc was performing well and keeping Verstappen at bay before the crash.
- Ferrari's incremental upgrades to the car helped Leclerc stay ahead of Verstappen on the straights.
- Red Bull's strategy of undercutting Leclerc forced him to stay out and push for faster laps.
- Leclerc's spin was a result of trying to maintain the pace and avoid being overtaken.
- It's difficult to say if Leclerc could have won the race due to the safety car and changing track conditions.

**Ferrari's Performance and Strategy**

- Ferrari's strategy was to pit Leclerc later and attack Verstappen with fresher tires.
- Team Principal Mattia Binotto expressed confidence in this strategy post-race.
- However, it's uncertain if this strategy would have resulted in a victory for Leclerc.
- Leclerc has made two driver errors in 12 races, which is a concern for his title hopes.
- Ferrari needs to deliver consistent performances and minimize errors to challenge for the title.
- Verstappen's consistency and Red Bull's reliability have been impressive.

**Carlos Sainz's Race**

- Sainz's penalty for a pit lane infringement affected his race strategy.
- Ferrari's initial misunderstanding of the penalty further complicated the situation.
- Sainz drove well and showed pace throughout the weekend.
- Sainz could have potentially finished on the podium without the penalty and a cleaner pit stop.
- Ferrari's indecision and lack of clear communication were evident during Sainz's pit stop.

**Sergio Perez's VSC Issue**

- Perez lost a podium finish due to a software glitch that caused a delay in receiving the VSC ending message.
- Red Bull and Perez were critical of race control for the incident.
- This is the second time Perez has been affected by race control decisions this season.
- The incident raises concerns about the reliability of race control systems.

**Russell and Perez's Incident**

- Russell and Perez had a controversial incident at the Seine chicane.
- Russell was ahead of Perez but did not leave enough space for Perez to make the corner.
- Race control deemed it a fair racing incident and did not penalize Russell.
- Perez was forced to let Sainz pass, losing further positions.

**Track Limits and Consistency**

- Track limits policing was consistent throughout the weekend.
- Mick Schumacher expressed frustration over losing a qualifying lap due to a minor track limits infringement.
- Drivers and teams want clearer guidelines and more consistent application of track limits rules.

**Mercedes' Performance**

- Mercedes had a strong result with a 2-3 finish, their best of the 2022 season.
- Lewis Hamilton praised Verstappen's relaxed and controlled race.
- Verstappen opted to conserve tires and secure the win rather than push for the fastest lap.

**Conclusion**

- Verstappen's dominance continues, and he has closed the gap to Leclerc in the Drivers' Championship.
- Ferrari needs to improve its consistency and minimize errors to challenge for the title.
- Red Bull's strategy and reliability have been key factors in their success.
- Race control decisions and incidents have raised concerns about consistency and fairness.
- The French Grand Prix provided exciting battles and talking points for fans.

**2022 French Grand Prix Inside Line F1 Podcast Episode Summary:**

The Inside Line F1 Podcast discusses the 2022 French Grand Prix, analyzing key moments and performances.

**Main Discussion Points:**

* **Leclerc's Costly Error:** Charles Leclerc's mistake led to a significant gap in the Drivers' Championship, with Max Verstappen extending his lead to 63 points.

* **Verstappen's Dominant Performance:** Verstappen's victory in France showcased his consistent dominance, highlighted by his impressive recovery from a 44-point deficit earlier in the season.

* **Mercedes' Mixed Results:** Mercedes achieved their best result of the season with a second and third-place finish, but their qualifying performance was disappointing, raising questions about their overall competitiveness.

* **Red Bull's Podium Streak:** Red Bull Racing extended their podium streak to 11 races, their best run since 2013, demonstrating their consistent strength.

* **Alonso's Impressive Performance:** Fernando Alonso continued his impressive form, securing a P6 finish for Alpine, while Esteban Ocon finished eighth, resulting in a strong points haul for the team.

* **McLaren's Upgrades:** McLaren brought upgrades to the French Grand Prix, with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo showing signs of improvement, potentially challenging Alpine for midfield supremacy.

* **Haas's Upgrade Potential:** Haas is set to receive upgrades for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, raising expectations for improved performance and a potential rise in the standings.

* **Alfa Romeo's Struggles:** Alfa Romeo endured a difficult weekend, with Valtteri Bottas experiencing his worst pointless streak since his rookie season, and the team facing challenges in both pace and reliability.

**Overall Impression:**

The 2022 French Grand Prix was a mixed bag, with some teams showing progress while others faced setbacks. The episode highlighted the evolving dynamics in the midfield and the ongoing battle for supremacy between Red Bull and Ferrari.