Round 12 of the 2022 Formula 1 schedule is at Circuit Paul Ricard for the French Grand Prix. TheSportsGeek has the latest French GP odds for the big event this weekend in Le Castelle, Var.
Instant drama following lights out in 2018 šæ#FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/AjSdr0L2CR
ā Formula 1 (@F1) July 21, 2022
The French Grand Prix is one of the oldest races in the world, with F1 racing dating back to a Ferenc Szisz win at Le Mans in 1906. Michael Schumacher has a record of eight wins at the French GP.
FERRARI DOUBLES UP
A week after Carlos Sainz won at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, teammate Charles Leclerc won a thrilling race over Max Verstappen at the Austrian GP. This wasnāt a win because Verstappenās equipment had problems after sustaining damage.
Verstappen likely wins at Silverstone if he doesnāt have damage to his car. However, Leclerc was simply the better driver at the Austrian GP. Verstappen had huge support, but his fans went home back to the Netherlands sad.
The Dutch star had the better car through practice and qualifying, but Ferrari worked hard on Leclercās machine for the race.
As much as his team gets criticized, they get a big A+ for their performance on Sunday in Austra. When Ferrari isnāt sabotaging Leclerc with gaffes, he can win any race.
Finally back in P1 in Austria š Cheers @Charles_Leclerc š» #essereFerrari š“ #AustrianGP @EG00 pic.twitter.com/Fs7HPbqN1H
ā Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) July 10, 2022
Leclerc continues to trail Verstappen in the Driversā Championship by 170 to 208 points. Verstappen has been more consistent with six wins and eight podiums this season. Red Bull is up in the Constructors with 7 wins and 14 podiums and 359 points.
Ferrari is hanging around in P2 with 303 points, securing four wins in 14 podiums. Can they beat the French GP odds at Circuit Paul Ricard? Leclerc or Sainz could make it three straight wins for Ferrari.
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Verstappen is looking to defend his French Grand Prix title from last year after Lewis Hamilton won the event in two straight years. Head below for the best French GP odds and predictions at TheSportsGeek.
French GP Betting Odds
Max Verstappen is the French GP odds favorite, according to the motorsports oddsmakers at Bovada. He isnāt an overwhelming favorite, though.
Verstappen is at +105 as the favorite while Charles Leclerc isnāt too far behind at +145. The odds will likely shift following practice sessions in France.
ENGINGE CHANGE FOR FERRARI?
Carlos Sainz has indicated that Ferrari is contemplating changing his engine for the French GP. If this were to occur, Sainz would have to accept a penalty on the grid.
Sainz is +2000 to win behind George Russell, Sergio Perez, and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton and Mercedes are coming along nicely. If they donāt have better success next year Iād be surprised.
French GP Odds Courtesy of Bovada:
Odds
Driver
Team
+105
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
+145
Charles Leclrec
Ferrari
+850
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
+1400
Sergio Perez
Red Bull
+1600
George Russell
Mercedes
+2000
Carlos Sainz Jr.
Ferrari
+17500
Fernando Alonso
Alpine
+17500
Lando Norris
McLaren
+20000
Esteban Ocon
Alpine
+25000
Valtteri Bottas
Alfa Romeo
+40000
Daniel Ricciardo
McLaren
+40000
Kevin Magnussen
Haas
+40000
Mick Schumacher
Haas
+50000
Pierre Gasly
AlphaTauri
French GP Prediction
Charles Leclerc (+145)
Charles Leclerc is looking for his first back-to-back wins of the season in France. He won Round 1 and 3, but hasnāt been a back-to-back winner. If it werenāt for his team strategically failing him at the Monaco GP, heād probably have one more win this season.
ā”ļø Austria’s @Aramco Power Rankings ā”ļø@Charles_Leclerc and @SchumacherMick hit the heights of 9ļøā£! #AustrianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/TmDmQVnMAi
ā Formula 1 (@F1) July 13, 2022
WILL THE MONACO LOSS DOWN LECLERC?
If Leclerc just misses out on beating Verstappen for the Driversā Championship, the pit gaffe at the Monaco GP will come back as a big missed opportunity. Leclerc, who likely cruises to a win, finished P4 after his team called him into the pits prematurely.
Heās capable of hanging around and dueling with Verstappen when his team isnāt making mental mistakes. On a track with as much straight-line speed as France, does Ferrari have enough to beat Red Bull regardless of strategic mistakes, though?
The French GP is one of the most balanced tracks on the F1 schedule, with 15 corners evenly distributed between high, medium, and low-speed turns.
Leclerc finished a lap down last year for P16. He started P7 and never had a good run. Leclerc
was the first driver to hit the pits and fell off from that point.
Ferrari has a much better car in 2022 than they did then, though. Leclerc rates a threat to go back-to-back in Austria and France.
Max Verstappen (+105)
Max Verstappen had a tough assignment at the French Grand Prix last year. Lewis Hamilton was coming off two wins in France and he was having a good season.
As they charged to a double podium at Circuit Paul Ricard last year, Sergio Perez let loose a flying Max Verstappen šØ#FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Sn7kFw6wLA
ā Formula 1 (@F1) July 19, 2022
Despite straight-line speed working well for Mercedes in 2021, Red Bull countered and made up for it with Verstappenās ability in the corners and a faster setup.
Verstappen won by 2.904 seconds over Hamilton at the checkered flag. Note that he also had the fastest lap of the race, with a time of 96.404 seconds and an average speed of 218 km per hr.
Hamilton didnāt have any tyres left by the time the race was done. He admitted that Red Bull had the superior strategy and deserved the win.
Mercedes believed that they had the faster car in the 2021 French Grand Prix. However, they believed that Red Bull had the better strategy. Toto Wolff was right about one thing, but Verstappen was also faster than Hamilton.
Leclerc may have a strong car again this week, but if weāre talking about a race that is going to require a good strategy again, the advantage has to go to Red Bull. Verstappen couldnāt hold on last week. That said, at plus money on a track where Red Bull had a good formula, Verstappen is good value to win.
Verstappen French GP Odds
