After a dramatic Azerbaijan Grand Prix in which F1 title protagonists Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton both scored no points, Sergio Perez took his first win for Red Bull.
The Mexican was accompanied on the Baku podium by Sebastian Vettel, who celebrated his first podium for Aston Martin, and Pierre Gasly from AlphaTauri.
Verstappen, who suffered a frightening flat tire in the closing stages of the Azerbaijan GP, is still leading the drivers’ standings by four points after Hamilton dropped back into the points at the restart from the battle for victory.
Hamilton accidentally turned a setting on his Mercedes steering wheel that changed the braking preload on his car, causing him to lock up on the first corner and go off the track.
F1 is returning to the more traditional tracks for the summer portion of the European season, starting with a visit to Circuit Paul Ricard for the French GP after missing the race last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hamilton has won both French GPs for Mercedes since the race returned to the F1 calendar in 2018, while both Fernando Alonso (2005) and Kimi Raikkonen (2007) are former French GP winners on the current grid.
track
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Times for the Formula 1 GP of France 2021
F1 will continue to run its revised weekend schedule for 2021 with shorter training sessions on Friday. After two free training sessions of 60 minutes each (instead of the previous 90 minutes), there is an additional one-hour training session on Saturday morning.
The knockout-style qualifying format Q1, Q2 and Q3 will also be maintained on Saturday afternoon to determine the starting grid for the French GP on Sunday.
F1 has also suspended starting races 10 minutes past the hour for the 2021 season, with all races starting on the hour.
Friday June 18, 2021
Free practice 1: 10: 30-11: 30 a.m. BST (11: 30-12: 30 a.m. local time)
Free practice 2: 14: 00-15: 00 BST (15: 00-16: 00 local time)
Saturday 19th June 2021
Free practice 3: 11: 00-12: 00 BST (12: 00-13: 00 local time)
Qualification: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. BST (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. local time)
Sunday 5th May 2021
Race: 2:00 p.m. BST (3:00 p.m. local time)
How can I see the French GP?
Channel: Sky Sports F1 HD
Channel numbers – Sky: 406
Channel Numbers – Virgin Media: 506 (Sky Sports F1 HD)
Sky Sports has the live and exclusive broadcast rights in the UK with the lead up to the F1 race from 12:30 p.m. before the lights go out at 2 p.m.
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90, Pierre Gasly, Red Bull Racing RB15, Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo Racing C38, Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team RS19, Nico Hulkenberg, Renault F1 Team RS 19 and the rest of the field leads on the first lap
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
When can I see the highlights?
Channel: Channel 4
· Start time: Saturday qualifying 6:00 p.m., Sunday race 6:30 p.m.
Channel 4 has the rights to show the highlights of the French GP from qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
Will it be on the radio?
Live radio broadcasts of every practice session, qualifying session and race for the 2021 F1 season will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra.
Coverage of the French GP will begin at 2:00 p.m. BST on BBC Radio 5 Live, which is available on both DAB radio and the BBC Sounds app.
Will there be fans at the French GP?
Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the French GP will be limited to a maximum capacity of 15,000 fans.
A French Grand Prix promotion team among the fans in a grandstand
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Weather forecast for the French GP
Le Castellet is prepared for largely sunny and cloudy conditions with a minimal chance of rain throughout the entire race weekend. Highs of 29 degrees Celsius are predicted over the weekend – around three degrees warmer than the hottest conditions at the Azerbaijan GP.
Most victories in the French F1 GP
Michael Schumacher: 8 wins (1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006)
Alain Prost: 6 wins (1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993)
Juan Manuel Fangio: 4 wins (1950, 1951, 1954, 1957)
Nigel Mansell: 4 wins (1986, 1987, 1991, 1992)
Jack Brabham: 3 wins (1960, 1966, 1967)
Jackie Stewart: 3 wins (1969, 1971, 1972)
