France – Qualifications: Hamilton hits hard, Vettel in disarray

A priori, there should not be a contest during these qualifications between Mercedes and the other teams on the grid. The German team dominated all three free practice sessions of this French Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton setting the fastest time once, and his teammate Valtteri Bottas doing so twice, including this morning.

Q1: Bottas stays ahead, Grosjean eliminated!

The mid-table teams are quick to come out, with Soft tires. The track, very abrasive under the scorching sun, is nonetheless dusty. Kimi Räikkönen is caught off guard by Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault, going slow on its out lap, and goes off the track before coming back right in front of Romain Grosjean’s Haas, forcing him to abort his lap.

All these people will be summoned after the session by the race stewards who will decide on the next steps and possible penalties for those at fault.

Räikkönen runs wide and rejoins the track, causing @RGrosjean to slow down #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/7XkC49pSgJ

— Formula 1 (@F1) 22 juin 2019

The two Ferraris quickly take the lead, Charles Leclerc well ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Valtteri Bottas sets the fastest time right from his first flying lap in 1:31.378. Lewis Hamilton, who follows him on track, ends up in third place behind the Monegasque.

The gaps have narrowed and the middle of the pack is even harder to reach. The McLarens of Carlos Sainz, the two Alfa Romeos of Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Räikkönen, and the Renaults of Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hülkenberg are the fastest.

It’s more complicated for the Haas of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen and the Racing Point of Sergio Pérez and Lance Stroll who are fighting for the last spots in Q2.

The track is improving and the Haas take the opportunity to gain some safety. We haven’t seen them in such a celebratory mood all weekend! The McLarens, meanwhile, confirm their good form, but everyone is improving, including the Racing Point and the Renault.

In his last fast lap, Romain Grosjean misses the North chicane and cannot defend his position. Unfortunately, the qualifying ends here for the Frenchman.

The drivers eliminated in Q1: Kvyat, Grosjean, Stroll, Russell, Kubica

Q2: Giovinazzi creates a surprise, a Renault out

Strategic games are underway. The Mercedes drivers are trying their luck with Medium tires, similar to the Ferrari, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, and Carlos Sainz’s McLaren. Let us remember that it is with the tires from their best lap in Q2 that the drivers will start from the grid tomorrow.

Hamilton and Bottas take the lead as Verstappen slots into 4th place between the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.

In a quick second run, Valtteri Bottas improves and takes the lead, shattering the track record previously held by Hamilton. The Finn sets a lap time of 1:29.437.

First Hamilton then Bottas break the track record!

The Finn goes quickest with a blistering lap of 1:29.437s 🔥#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/VgxOPR2nK8

— Formula 1 (@F1) 22 juin 2019

Medium tires are fast on their second flying lap, Max Verstappen proves it by improving his time, as do the Ferraris of Leclerc and Vettel.

The battle to get into Q3 is fierce. Pierre Gasly is struggling with his Red Bull on Soft tires. However, he manages to save his qualification by making it into the Top 10! Antonio Giovinazzi creates a surprise with an impressive 9th place behind the two McLaren drivers and Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault. Unfortunately, Nico Hülkenberg fails to make it into the top ten and has to settle for 13th place.

The drivers eliminated in Q2: Albon, Räikkönen, Hülkenberg, Perez, Magnussen

Q3: Hamilton breaks the track record, Vettel in difficulty

The 10 fastest drivers are launching into the hunt for pole position. The softest red tires are obviously out on all the cars.

The cars hit the track…

#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/io5uiS0l9z

— Formula 1 (@F1) 22 juin 2019

For their first attempt, the two Mercedes break the track record, Valtteri Bottas and then Lewis Hamilton take the lead. The Briton sets a time of 1:28.448, pushing Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari to more than 6 tenths of a second behind in 3rd place.

Sebastian Vettel aborted his first fast lap citing a gearbox problem on his SF190, leaving the 4th time to Max Verstappen ahead of the two McLaren drivers, Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault, and Pierre Gasly. Antonio Giovinazzi chose to do only one fast lap.

The positions do not change during the second attempt. However, Lewis Hamilton still improves the track record to 1:28.319. The surprise once again comes from Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel, who can only manage the 7th fastest time! A real disaster for the German.

The complete standings of the qualifications

QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION: @LewisHamilton's 60th pole for Mercedes 👊#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/robH5jBvIg

— Formula 1 (@F1) 22 juin 2019

From our special correspondent in Le Castellet