We are now seven races into the Formula 1 season and already it looks like it is going to be another walk in the park for Mercedes. Having won all of the seven races so far this season, and finishing 1-2 in five of them, the German constructor is miles in front of the constructor’s championship race with their two drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas also leading the driver’s event.
However, the signs are that Ferrari are starting to claw back some of the advantage with better performances in the last two races. This weekend, the Italians head back to Europe, to France, with hopes that Vettel and Leclerc could finally end Mercedes dominance in races this season at the famous Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet.
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F1 Season Standings
The standings are shown after the seventh race of the season in Canada.
Driver’s Championship 2019
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 162
- Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) – 133
- Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) – 100
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 88
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 72
- Pierre Gasly (Red Bull) – 36
- Carlos Sainz (McLaren) – 18
- Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) – 16
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas) – 14
- Sebastien Perez (Racing Point), Kimi Raikonnen (Alfa Romeo) – 13
- Luke Norris (McLaren) – 12
- Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) – 12
- Danil Kviyat (Toro Rosso) – 10
- Alexander Albon (Toro Rosso) – 7
- Lance Stroll (Racing Point) – 6
- Sebastian Grosjean (Haas) – 2
- Antonio Giovanazzi (Alfa Romeo), George Russell (Williams), Robert Kubica (Williams) – 0
Constructor’s Championship 2019
- Mercedes – 295
- Ferrari – 172
- Red Bull Racing – 124
- McLaren – 30
- Renault – 28
- Racing Point – 19
- Toro Rosso – 17
- Haas – 16
- Alfa Romeo – 13
- Williams – 0
Season Facts
- Mercedes have won all seven of the opening races of the season. Lewis Hamilton winning five (Bahrain, China, Spain, Monaco and Canada) and Valtteri Bottas winning two (Australia, Azerbaijan).
- Mercedes drivers finished 1st and 2nd in the first five races of the season but since then Sebastian Vettel has finished second in both Canada and Monaco.
- Vettel finished first in the Canadian Grand Prix last time out, but a five-second penalty after an incident with Lewis Hamilton meant that Vettel was relegated to second with the Mercedes driver promoted into first in a controversial move.
- Four drivers have picked up the extra point awarded for the fastest lap in a race this season. Bottas has won twice for Mercedes in Australia and Canada, Gasly has won twice for Red Bull in China and Monaco, Leclerc has won twice for Ferrari in Bahrain and Azerbaijan with Lewis Hamilton picking up one point for the fastest lap in Spain.
The next race of the season occurs this weekend at the famous Paul Ricard circuit in France and it should be an intriguing race.
French Grand Prix – Preview
Paul Ricard hosted the French Grand Prix for the first time in ten years in 2018, taking over from Magny Cours, and the new layout of 5.842 kilometers, is the longest that the track has been, in the three different iterations it has used when it has been part of the F1 calendar.
The most famous part of the circuit is the long Mistral Straight and the current set up sees 15 turns and the current lap record is held by Valtteri Bottas who set a time of 1.34.225 in the race last year.
Last year’s race was won by Lewis Hamilton, who finished ahead of Max Verstappen in second,with the then Ferrari driver Kimi Raikknen third. Hamilton claimed pole in qualifying with a lap over four seconds faster than Bottas’ record time in the race.
For this year’s race, the entry and exit to the pit lane has been changed after some safety concerns were aired following last year’s race.
To Win the French Grand Prix – Odds
*All odds shown below are correct as of 11.30am on Tuesday 18th June 2019 with bet365 Sport
- Lewis Hamilton – 4/5
- Valtteri Bottas – 11/4
- Sebastian Vettel – 4/1
- Charles Leclerc – 13/2
- Max Verstappen – 22/1
- Pierre Gasly – 350/1
- 1000/1 bar
Who is our tip to win the race?
In truth, I think it looks to be a straight choice between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas for the win in France this weekend. Sebastian Vettel will be so frustrated after the events in Canada that he will be desperate to get a win here, but I just don’t feel that Ferrari have the power to match Mercedes on the Paul Ricard circuit and also, they seem to be running low on luck at the present moment in time too.
Hamilton may have looked a little sheepish when on the top step of the podium in Canada and he was the first to admit that it is not the way he would like to win any race, but the fact that he did finish behind Vettel in the race, but won thanks only to the penalty, will be a reminder to him that he cannot discount Ferrari.
However, I think Hamilton’s main threat this weekend will be his team mate. Bottas has been in better form this season, winning two races and finishing second in several others. He is well clear of Vettel in the driver’s championship and if he is to catch Hamilton, he needs to start picking up a few more wins. I expect him to push hard here and I feel another Mercedes 1-2 is on the cards.
However, I see Hamilton being the man to claim the win.
Our Race Prediction (top 3)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
- Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
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