Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has won the Formula 1 race in France. Verstappen benefited from Charles Leclerc’s failure. The Ferrari driver retired while in the lead after a spin and problems with the accelerator pedal. Lewis Hamilton was second in the Mercedes, with Hamilton’s teammate George Russell in third place. International media write about the race:
Great Britain:
“The Guardian”: “Should this Formula 1 season end with a whimper rather than a bang, the French Grand Prix will surely mark the moment when the explosive potential fizzled out.”
“Daily Mail”: “Then he (Charles Leclerc) let out a primal scream: “NOOOO”. No wonder, as it was an almost unbelievable mistake that he admitted to the press. Luckily he was unhurt and went back to the paddock dejected.”
Spain:
“As”: “A masterpiece by Sainz while Leclerc smashes himself. It’s not always the best that wins, we saw that again this time. Ferrari missed another good chance. Despite the Sainz Festival, it’s a bad day for Ferrari.”
“Sport”: “Verstappen flies towards the title after his victory in France. Epic comeback from 19th to fifth by Carlos Sainz. It honors Leclerc that he admitted his mistake, sometimes he seems overly motivated, maybe a little more serenity is missing.”
“El Mundo Deportivo”: “Verstappen wins in France and Ferrari gives him a piece of the world title. To win a World Cup you have to be close to perfection and Red Bull knows that very well. Ferrari cannot afford such mistakes, they destroy their own dreams like this.”
“Marca”: “Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix – a win that was as simple as it was unexpected. It was Charles Leclerc who dominated the race from the start and started to pull away from his great rival when he braked into the Signes long corner (…) and drove into the barrier. An unseemly mistake for someone who wants to win a world championship and for a supposedly undisputed leader at Ferrari (…)”
Italy:
La Repubblica: Charles Leclerc’s Desperate Scream. After a strange, unusual mistake for him. (…) Farewell the French Grand Prix and maybe the World Championship as well.”
“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “Leclerc’s World Cup crashes into a wall, the world title for Ferrari is a long way off. Leclerc is alone, crushed by the burden of making a dramatic mistake on lap 18 of the French GP that he had previously mastered. Leclerc deserves a lot of sympathy for the character with which he took responsibility for this incident.”
Corriere dello Sport: Leclerc apologizes for his mistake like a child punished by his parents. With hands behind his back and eyes downcast, an expression of a fragility that can shatter any talent. Leclerc’s insecurity becomes the insecurity of the entire team, which is strong in qualifying but often makes mistakes in the race. And an insecure champion can be a great pilot but not a leader.”
“Tuttosport”: “Leclerc destroys Ferrari’s dreams. Although Ferrari has the fastest car, it does not make a profit from it. Sainz deserves first place and is sending a clear message to team boss Binotto for the future.”
“Corriere della Sera”: “Leclerc’s ambitions shatter on a barrier of a curve. Leclerc’s mistake costs Ferrari half a World Championship crown as the Ferrari driver is now 63 points behind Verstappen. This Sunday will leave deep marks at Ferrari. The only consolation is a car that can win anywhere.”
Netherlands:
“De Volkskrant”: “Verstappen doesn’t even have to fight for victory in France thanks to a crashing Leclerc. Was it Leclerc’s failure that definitely took the excitement out of the Formula 1 season? An answer can only be given in four months, but that doesn’t change the fact that Max Verstappen once again benefited optimally from a catastrophic race by Ferrari in France.”
“AD”: “Max Verstappen cautiously realizes that only he himself can still hand over the World Cup. After strategic mistakes, technical defects and reliability problems at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc showed with his own mistake in France that he is not ready to deprive Max Verstappen of the title.
“De Telegraaf”: “It is too easy to claim that Max Verstappen gets his second world title thrown into his lap by botched work at Ferrari. The Dutchman’s performance this season has been too consistent for that and he’s incredibly reliable.”
Switzerland:
“Blick”: “This makes it easy for world champion Max Verstappen to win his second world title in 2022.”
“Tages-Anzeiger”: “Being in the lead, Charles Leclerc catapults his Ferrari into the tire wall. Thanks to mistakes by the competition, Mercedes achieved the best result of the season.”
