A good anguished scream on team radio from Leclerc summarized another frustrating day with regard to Ferrari, after the Monegasque driver — having led from pole — slammed to the wall at high speed on lap eighteen.
It is the third period this season that the 24-year-old has failed to finish the race having directed. Leclerc has transformed only two of his seven pole starts into benefits, with the latest giving Verstappen the opportunity to open a 63-point distance in the driver’s tournament.
Plus Red Bull’s famous world champion — after checking along with his team to ask if Leclerc was ok — made no error to win his 27th career fantastic prix, and his second in a row in the Circuit Paul Ricard.
“The car had been quick today, ” Verstappen said. “Unlucky for Charles, I hope he is OK, but I just did our race and cared for the tyres.
“I always try to complete points possible. Some moves, you see these are on, and occasionally you just have to back out and wait for the end of the race. That’s what we do.
“There are a lot more races to come where you have to score points. In that aspect, today was a great day. ”
An excellent day time for Mercedes noticed Lewis Hamilton and George Russell secure the team’s first double podium of the season. Right after three straight 3rd place finishes, Hamilton went one better in his 300th competition, while Russell overtook Red Bull’s Sergio Perez with 2 laps to go to cap another impressive displaying.
More misery designed for Leclerc
Finishing fourth from pole with his home race in Monaco after an errant pit stop strategy, a double DNF at Azerbaijan , fifth in Canada , plus frustrations with team orders in Great Britain ; Leclerc’s fortunes got looked to be changing with a win in Luxembourg previously this month.
A first triumph since April got looked set to thrust him back into championship contention, and the Ferrari driver started highly in France, getting away well and starting to steadily create a lead from Verstappen.
But disaster struck upon lap 18 when Leclerc appeared to reduce the rear of their car heading to the fast turn 11, spinning into the wall structure. A safety car soon followed, however the 24-year-old emerged in the car unscatched.
“No! ” he screamed on team stereo, initially appearing accountable a throttle problem that had nearly cost him the particular race in Austria, but he afterwards admitted it was his error.
“I’ve been saying I think I’m carrying out at the highest level in my career but if I keep doing these mistakes it is pointless to execute at a very high level, ” Leclerc informed Sky Sports.
“If all of us lose the tournament by 32 factors at the end of the season, I am going to know where she or he is coming from and it’s unacceptable. I need to get on top of those things.
“It’s been a very difficult weekend break for me. I battled a lot with the stability of the car… when it’s warm like this it is rather difficult to be consistent. ”
Mercedes pleasure
A superb recovery drive from teammate Carlos Sainz — starting from the back of the grid following a power unit penalty — provided some convenience for Ferrari, however even his 4th place finish was not without incident for that team.
The Spaniard have been discussing a potential hole stop over team radio prior to a tense battle with Perez. Pushing to overtake the particular Mexican, Sainz had been wheel to steering wheel with his rival when his pit lane crew chimed in over the radio to advise on the pit stop strategy.
“Not not really, not now, ” Sainz shouted more than team radio, afterwards adding, “Come on guys. ”
Perez was later involved with another thrilling battle with Russell, falling behind the Englishman with just two laps remaining after reacting slowly to the finish of a virtual safety car.
Russell leaped ahead and kept his lead to cover a fine day meant for Mercedes, as he ways to within a point of Sainz in the driver’s championship, with a happy — albeit exhausted — Hamilton 16 points behind.
“It was a tough race since my drinks container didn’t work yet what a great result considering we’ve been up to now off these guys many weekend, ” Hamilton said.
“Reliability is one matter my team is definitely amazing at therefore huge congratulations to the team back at the factories and the team here, without them we wouldn’t get this podium. George do an amazing job too. ”