Max Verstappen clinches victory in French GP, Lewis Hamilton second

History was created at the French Grand Prix (GP) in the 2021 Formula 1 (F1) season on Sunday as Red Bull driver Max Verstappen claimed pole position after a thrilling last couple of laps. This is the first time Red Bull has won three consecutive races in a F1 season. The previous two were won by Verstappen in Monaco and Sergio Perez in Baku. Defending champion and Mercedes ace driver Lewis Hamilton came second. The Englishman marginally missed out on the first spot after leading the race for over 10 laps towards the end. Red Bull used the exact same strategy that Mercedes used in Barcelona, making a one-stop race into a two-stop one, and the plan worked to perfection. Verstappen finished first, with Hamilton in second, Perez in third, and Bottas in fourth.

After claiming pole position in qualifying, Verstappen started from the top of the grid, followed by Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez, and Valtteri Bottas. By the time the 31st lap came around, both Hamilton and Verstappen expressed their doubts regarding the tyres going the distance. Until this point, the top four that started the grid were in those exact positions in the race. Verstappen decided to go for a pit stop and change the tyres, but Hamilton sped ahead. Verstappen started again, this time from the fourth position behind Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

It was a thing of beauty as Verstappen gained on those ahead of him within the last 15 laps of the race. Third-placed Perez let his teammate go past him but Verstappen still had to get past the two Mercedes drivers. It did not take too long for the driver’s championship leader to go past Bottas. The Finnish driver was then overtaken by Perez, leaving Hamilton with two Red Bulls on his tail.

RED BULL’S FLAWLESS STRATEGY

It might have possibly been this moment when Mercedes did away with changing Hamilton’s tyres. It would have left the defending champion with the tough task of going past not one, but two Red Bulls. This is where Red Bull’s strategy paid off. Perez’s job was to just be involved in the top four race, as support for Verstappen. It was at the end that he put the pressure on his tyres, which had enough to see out the remainder of the race. With Verstappen and Perez in second and third respectively, stopping for a tyre-change was put of the question for Hamilton.

Verstappen finally went ahead of Hamilton at lap 52 of 53 after what was a thrilling chase. It was a must-win race for him as anything but would have seen Hamilton going top in the driver’s championship table. With the victory, Verstappen extended his lead at the top of the table. Red Bull also sits atop the constructor’s championship table.

It was a day to forget, however, for Ferrari. Neither of their drivers managed to finish in the top 10 in what has been an utterly disappointing outing for the prancing horse. Carlos Sainz finished in 11th while Charles Leclerc could only manage a lowly 16th place.

It was a career-best finish, however, for Williams’ driver George Russell. The 23-year-old finished in 12th place. The remainder of the top 10, apart from the four Mercedes and Red Bull drivers were Lando Norris (McLaren), Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), Fernando Alonso (Alpine), Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin).