Leclerc back in pole position thanks to the collective work of Ferrari

Who said that the agreement was not good at Ferrari ? Thanks in particular to a great aspiration received from Carlos Sainz on the second part of the straight line of the mistral, Charles Leclerc signed his seventh pole position of the season in twelve Grands Prix, and equaled his personal best from 2019 (7). At the end of the first run of Q3, Max Verstappen had however managed to get within just 8 thousandths of the Monegasque, but the latter managed, as often on his second run, to create a larger gap and get a comfortable pole (+0″304). 

Behind Leclerc, Red Bull is in ambush, with a Sergio Perez who has grown considerably closer to his leader Max Verstappen. The two cars of the red bull will at least have the numerical advantage during Sunday's Grand Prix, since they will be two against one, Carlos Sainz being forced to start at the back of the grid, for having installed a fourth engine on his car. 

Mercedes placed, but far

Although we expected it to be closer on this circuit which gives pride of place to fast turns, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) qualified in 4th position, ahead of his two compatriots Lando Norris (McLaren) and George Russell (Mercedes). Very fit lately, Fernando Alonso made it shine Alpine and France at home by qualifying in 7th position. Nice surprise also from Yuki tsunoda, 8th, who managed to make the most of the big updates brought by Alpha Tauri. The battle to avoid last place between the two engine penalized Carlos Sainz and Kevin Magnussen will have held until the end of Q2, the Spaniard having had the advantage over the Dane. They will start 19th and 20th respectively.  

Despite the updates made to its car, Daniel Ricciardo will start in 9th position after missing qualification in Q3 by a tenth. The Australian can always console himself by saying that he has reduced the gap which separated him from his teammate in Q2 since there was only 0″150 left. No French driver qualified for Q3, however, but Esteban Ocon, 12th in qualifying, will start 10th thanks to the various engine penalties imposed. Since the start of the weekend, the protégé ofAlpine failed to get into the rhythm of his teammate.

🗨️ “Since this morning, it’s much more complicated”

Pierre Gasly obviously very disappointed after his elimination in Q1. He will start 14th tomorrow on the grid with the penalties from Sainz and Magnussen 🗣️#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 | ▶️ https://t.co/t7uFs3yVeh pic.twitter.com/nrwn6MIav5

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) July 23, 2022

5th in FP1 and 7th in FP2 on Friday, Pierre Gasly was clearly aiming for Q3 in qualifying, with the large improvements installed on his AT03. But the Norman, who had found his smile again, immediately lost it again by signing the 16th time in Q1, only 16 thousandths behind Alex Albon, last qualified. Mick Schumacher, who had set the 10th fastest time in Q1, was demoted to 19th position for having crossed the track limits at turn 3.

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