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Tyres NorthamptonFormula One is fully into the European leg of its season as it heads over to southern France for the 2022 French Grand Prix. After the double-header events at Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring, the Circuit Paul Ricard is kicking off the second double-header of racing in July before F1 begins its summer break in August.
Since its return to the Formula One calendar, the French Grand Prix hasn't exactly become a fan favourite after several relatively dull affairs. However, that wasn't the case last year when Mercedes and Red Bull engaged in a Pirelli tyre duel that kept the race entertaining until the final lap. With the French Riviera going through as much of a heatwave as the rest of Europe, will tyres again prove to be the crucial factor at the Le Castellet circuit?
This week's story has been the temperature, no matter the topic, and Formula One is no exception. The mercury is forecast to hit 37°C when F1 arrives on Thursday and will remain with highs in the mid-30s over the race weekend. Although the sport has already raced in the Middle East this year, those Grands Prix were in the evening to avoid the worst of the heat. But, unfortunately, that's not the case this Sunday.
Many expect Mercedes to challenge at the front again as they did at Silverstone. Although Lewis Hamilton and George Russell's team haven't been the force they were in 2021, the British Grand Prix was when they looked like having one of the quickest cars. Many think the smooth track surface and fast corners are key reasons behind this, and Circuit Paul Ricard has both. As a result, the 2022 French Grand Prix could be the first three-way constructor scrap in years.
It's the same tyre choices as last year, with Pirelli bringing their middle tyre compounds to France. The teams will use the C2, C3, and C4 Pirelli rubber, which we last saw in Miami. With the temperatures likely to be similar to Florida, that may prove a safe bet, but the predicted lack of cloud cover could impact the track's temperature and, thus, the teams' planned tyre strategies.
Although the tyre battle in 2021 had Max Verstappen go for a race-winning two-stop strategy, the conventional route is a single pit stop. Verstappen's Medium-Hard-Medium method last year might've won him the race, but it was thanks to a gamble by Red Bull that only netted him the lead in the final laps.
As with every Grand Prix in 2022, the tyre compounds from last year don't correlate the same for this season. Although it was the C2, C3, and C4 rubber 12 months ago, Pirelli has a different chemical mixture for their 2022 tyres and the new 18" wheels have changed tyre performance considerably. Expect the unexpected.
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Max Verstappen won last year, and he would've been hopeful of repeating the feat here with his run of form this season – until July. The tide has recently turned red, with Ferrari winning the British Grand Prix and beating Red Bull in Austria. That momentum might suggest Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz could be in with a realistic shot of victory, but it won't be easy.
However, if Red Bull or Ferrari were to win in France, they'd need to beat each other, plus Mercedes, to reach the top step. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell took P3 and P4 in the Austrian Grand Prix at a track where few expected them to perform well. Hamilton has now finished third in three consecutive races and, unlike the regular retirements from Red Bull and Ferrari, the 2022 Mercedes looks bulletproof.
However, the 2022 "big two" aren't going to be idly waiting for the German manufacturer to catch them in the development race, so we could see any of these three be the team to beat in France. Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz want to prove they are as mighty as their teammates Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, while Hamilton and Russell need to show Mercedes aren't down and out. This race looks too close to call.
The French Grand Prix will have lights out at 2PM on Sunday.
Qualifying – On air: 2PM, Session start: 3PM Saturday 23rd July
Race – On air: 12:30PM, Session start: 2PM Sunday 24th July
Channel 4 will show the highlights of Qualifying and the Grand Prix at 6:30PM on Saturday and Sunday
Qualifying – 6:30PM Saturday 23rd July
Race – 6:30PM Sunday 24th July
Qualifying & Race – It's going to be a scorcher. Forecasts suggest highs of 34°C, with low 30s across the whole afternoon and clear skies meaning there's no let-up from the sun. It goes without saying that rain is not expected for the 2022 French Grand Prix, so it will be Pirelli's dry tyres all weekend.
