This season kicks into high gear as Ferrari and the rest of the grid push toward the summer break. The focus is on the Circuit Paul Ricard in France, where the French Grand Prix sets the stage for a sprint to the finish. Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc aim to put recent troubles behind them and recapture momentum, while Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen remain central to the title fight.
The last two races at Silverstone and Spielberg signaled a small resurgence for Ferrari, a reminder that the team can still threaten the status quo. Verstappen and Red Bull hold a commanding lead in the standings, but the championship battle is far from settled. Verstappen’s streak of consistent performances keeps him in the ideal position to push toward back-to-back titles, a run that has already cemented his dominance in this campaign.
With Verstappen leading the pack at the top, the challenge for Ferrari is to close the gap and keep pressure on the championship leader. The upcoming races at Paul Ricard and the Hungaroring are viewed as critical chapters that could shape the second half of the season. Every point matters, and these back-to-back events offer a blueprint for how the title race might unfold as the summer break approaches.
Paul Ricard itself holds memories for Verstappen, who tasted victory there last year. The car’s reliability is a focal point for the team, as it has shown strength this season. Sainz, who dominated qualifying in past years at certain tracks, must translate his pace into a strong result on Sunday, while Leclerc faces the task of overcoming tire management challenges that have plagued him previously on this circuit. In 2021, Leclerc finished fifteenth in a race he described as one of the toughest of the season due to tire wear. The dynamic on this track continues to evolve, and the battle among the teams adds extra intensity to the weekend.
Alonso aims to shine
Behind the current championship leaders, Sergio Pérez has had a rollercoaster season, with a sequence of podium finishes followed by retirements. He remains a constant threat to the Red Bulls, and the field is watching closely as the pecking order shifts. The other Ferrari, currently trailing his teammate in the standings, seeks to regain form after a challenging stretch, while Sainz looks to build from Silverstone’s notable result and climb the table again.
The Madrid native’s car, the F1-75, has shown flashes of promise but also moments of frustration. This season has delivered a mix of highs and lows, and a stronger performance in France could set the tone for the second half of the campaign. A sharp step forward would help him overtake rivals and regain ground on the leaderboard, with midfield battles intensifying as the season progresses. The focus remains on consistency and turning potential into points, especially as teams push for a solid showing on home soil and against familiar opponents.
With the season entering a critical stretch, Alonso returns to Paul Ricard with a clear goal: a weekend that mirrors his experience and skill. After a troubled outing at Spielberg, he will look to bounce back and demonstrate why he is a two-time world champion. His team, Alpine, is counting on a smoother weekend at the track where he finished eighth last year, aiming for a top-10 result and a strong performance that could shift momentum within the squad ahead of the next race.
As the schedule unfolds, fans will be keeping an eye on the practice sessions and the rhythm each team finds in the lead-up to Sunday’s race. The Friday and Saturday programs set the tone, with practice sessions designed to sharpen pace and strategy. On Sunday, the main event will feature cautious tire management, strategic pit stops, and a race pace that could redefine the standings heading into the summer break.
French F1 GP Schedule
- Friday, July 22:
Free Training 1: 14:00 – 15:00 (CET)
Free Practice 2: 17:00 – 18:00 (CET)
- Saturday, July 23:
Free Practice 3: 13:00 – 14:00 (CET)
Classification: 16:00 (CET)
- Sunday, July 24:
Race: 15:00 (57 laps) (CET)