France: pre-qualifying 2022

 

And so to France, where recent races have been a bit like India (although not quite that bad). However, this year’s regulations have worked very well to improve racing closeness so perhaps it’ll be a better race this time around. 

Sainz has a minimum 10 place grid penalty and may yet start from the back if he changes more parts (it turns out setting fire to a Ferrari engine does not improve its performance). In practice to date (first two sessions as I write this) the Red Bull has apparently been chewing its tyres, a bit like last time. McLaren, I think, has some new bits and pieces.

In first practice Leclerc edged Verstappen by less than a tenth, with Sainz a quarter of a second further back. Russell was next but six-tenths off the Spaniard and a tenth ahead of Gasly. Perez, Norris, Albon, De Vries (for Mercedes), and Ricciardo rounded out the top 10.

Second practice had a Ferrari 1-2 at the top, Sainz a tenth up on his team mate, and Verstappen four-tenths further back. Russell was best of the rest, ahead of Hamilton, with Norris, Gasly, Magnussen, Ricciardo, and Perez completing the top half of the time sheet.

At this stage, reliability notwithstanding, it’s looking rosy for Leclerc.

 

Qualifying is at 3pm.

Unsure if I’ll have time to wait for third practice (and the markets to go up afterwards), so I’m not going to. Have glanced at the markets but nothing’s taking my fancy, so no practice tip.

 

Morris Dancer

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