What time does the French Grand Prix start?
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
This Sunday, it's time for the eighth Formula 1 race of the season and the start of the first double-header of the season. The French Grand Prix is here, followed by the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg next week! Who will travel to Austria with the biggest spring in his step?
2018 French Grand Prix
Last year was the first French Grand Prix in a decade, and the first at Paul Ricard since 1990.
It wasn't the best of races, with pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton leading all but one lap of the entire race and cruising to a win at Le Castellet.
Most action actually happened in the first lap of the race. Sebastian Vettel, who started from P3, came away well but then got his braking for T1 all wrong, clattering into the W09 of Valtteri Bottas, effectively ending both drivers' races. Vettel managed to come home in P5, while the Finn had to take a P7.
Further back, youth friends turned rivals Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly collided as well at their home race, ending both of their races before it really started in the first lap. Not exactly burying the hatchet there. The third and final French driver Romain Grosjean finished outside of the points in P11, behind (sort of) home driver Charles Leclerc for Sauber.
Max Verstappen came home in P2 but never really challenged Hamilton for the win, while Kimi Raikkonen held off Daniel Ricciardo for the final podium place.
2019: Mercedes domination?
Realistically, there are five drivers who could win a race in 2019. Both Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, and Verstappen. However, the Dutchman's Red Bull hasn't been able to really challenge for wins, so you really have to focus on Mercedes and Ferrari.
Vettel has shown in Canada that Ferrari can be able to beat Mercedes on a Sunday, but it just hasn't happened yet for the Scuderia. It's been seven wins in seven so far for Mercedes, and after putting their cars on the first row for the 63rd time in team history on Saturday, it's hard to look past them in tomorrow's race once again. Never count out the brilliant Leclerc, though.
What time does the French Grand Prix start?
Like every European race, the French Grand Prix will start at 15.10 local time on June 23rd. That's 14.10 in the United Kingdom, and 09.10 Eastern Time.