French Review: Zero Points at Castellet

Catastrophe from the first lap for the French camp. Following the harpooning of Esteban Ocon’s Force India by Pierre Gasly’s Toro Rosso, which lost control of his car under braking, there are two simultaneous retirements on the scoreboard for the French. However, the Force India driver blames Romain Grosjean after he was hit by a wheel, forcing him to move aside. Disappointment in the stands and for our two young drivers, who were obviously eager to put on a great performance for their national Grand Prix.

On his side, Romain Grosjean, the only Frenchman in the race and having escaped the events of the first corners, finished painfully just outside the points, outclassed by his teammate who finished sixth.

Romain Grosjean (Haas):

As the only Frenchman in the race, the Franco-Swiss drives to a frustrating eleventh place, just outside the points. He was penalized five seconds in the first laps after a wheel bump with Esteban Ocon in the opening meters, which he clearly didn’t appreciate according to his statements:

« For what? It’s a f***ing joke »

The Haas driver will admit after the race not understanding this decision nor Esteban Ocon’s statements against him:

« I don’t even know why I’m getting a five-second penalty, I’ll have to go see the engineers to understand. Then, I got pushed off the track quite a few times, especially when I overtook Charles [Leclerc]: he comes back, if I don’t open up there will be contact. He should learn before he talks »

In the continuation of his relatively complicated race, he states:

After we suffered, there was quite a bit of damage to the car, the floor was damaged on the left side. But I gave it my all, I’m proud of myself in that regard. We suffered at the beginning of the race, we had too much aerodynamic balance, on Super softs at the end I made some nice overtakes but we were too far back.

Lap 35/53 – #FrenchGP@RGrosjean makes his pit stop and takes his 5 second penalty. pic.twitter.com/AGuMWEjQ1k

— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) 24 juin 2018

Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso): Retirement

Abandon from the first turns for the young Norman who, after hitting the curb of the right Sainte Baume turn, saw his Toro Rosso end its trajectory in the Force India of his compatriot Esteban Ocon. Significant damage for both cars which will not be able to continue.

A nightmare of a ‘French Kiss’ at Turn 1

Gasly and Ocon both retire from their first home race#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ixuafny5a0

— Formula 1 (@F1) 24 juin 2018

Esteban Ocon (Force India): Retirement

Just like his young compatriot, retirement for Esteban Ocon after the early-race collision. Disappointment and frustration on the side of the Frenchman from the Force India team who couldn’t do anything. While he puts the blame on Romain Grosjean and not Pierre Gasly, it nevertheless results in a massive waste for the Force India camp and for the French camp.

« The first round incident, it’s Romain who suddenly turns the steering wheel massively for no reason, I don’t understand why he does that, no one on the right was squeezing him, and I get caught by the steering. I was almost about to give up because of that. And then Pierre crashes into me, that’s how it is… I hit the steering wheel so hard that I must have broken it. It’s not cool, I’m just a passenger in the whole story. I’m here, trying to stay on the track… It’s petty. I watched the footage again. I’m not angry with Pierre, I’m angry with Romain, he’s the one putting me in this situation »

LAP 17/53

Not the view Esteban Ocon was hoping for at his home race 😕#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Gb9yXWypYt

— Formula 1 (@F1) 24 juin 2018

From our special correspondent in Le Castellet