After his victory at the Austrian GP, Charles Leclerc also took pole position in France. The Ferrari star benefits from the strong teamwork with his colleague Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard has to start from the back on Sunday anyway after changing the drive unit – so he gave the Monegasque the valuable slipstream twice in qualifying for the race in Le Castellet.
Result: Leclerc’s seventh pole position of the year and the 16th of his career. “Thanks to Carlos, that was great teamwork,” said the Monegasque happily. “Without him it would have been much closer today.”
Charles Leclerc was unbeatable in qualifying.
“We’ve gotten on track to some extent,” says Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, but he’s still not satisfied. “Our gap to the top is too big. Verstappen is six tenths ahead and that shouldn’t happen with an update. Now is the moment when you have to say: the package doesn’t work the way we want it to.”
Mick Schumacher’s fastest lap was canceled because he exceeded the track limit.
Nico Rosberg protects the Haas pilot at Sky: “I don’t think Mick was aware that you also have to pay attention to the track limits inside. That’s why he was so surprised on the radio.” The pictures show: The German was very close with all four wheels off the track.
Strong times, on the other hand, from his teammate Kevin Magnussen: The Dane made it into the third qualifying segment, but like Carlos Sainz had to start from the back after a drive change.
French Grand Prix
qualifying
2. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull +0.304s
3. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull +0.463
4. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes +0.893
5. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren +1.160
6. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes +1.259
7. Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Alpine +1,680
8. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) – Alpha Tauri +1.908
9. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) – Ferrari 1:32.297
10. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas 1:32.756
11. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – McLaren 1:32.922
12. Esteban Ocon (France) – Alpine 1:33.048
13. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo 1:33.052
14. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Aston Martin 1:33.276
15. Alexander Albon (Thailand) – Williams 1:33.307
16. Pierre Gasly (France) – Alpha Tauri 1:33.439
17. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Aston Martin 1:33.439
18. Zhou Guanyu (China) – Alfa Romeo 1:33.674
19. Mick Schumacher (Gland/Switzerland) – Haas 1:33.701
20. Nicholas Latifi (Canada) – Williams 1:33,794
