The F1 circuit returns to mainland Europe this weekend for the 2019 French Grand Prix. Darry Worthington previews the race below.
After the drama of Canada, the field now heads for the Circuit Paul Rickard in France for what should be a cracking race,
French Grand Prix
Sunday 23 June
Circuit Paul Rickard
To Win Race Outright
Lewis Hamilton 8/10
Valtteri Bottas 11/4
Sebastian Vettel 4/1
Charles LeClerc 13/2
Max Verstappen 22/1
Pierre Gasly 350/1
Daniel Ricciardo 1000/1
Kimi Raikkonen 1000/1
Previous Race
Ferrari just cannot buy a break at the moment with Sebastian Vettel seeing his first-place finish in Canada overturned due to a five second time penalty that he picked up for rejoining the track in an unsafe manner. The Ferrari ace was relegated to second place with Lewis Hamilton promoted to first.
There was some good news for Ferrari as rookie driver Charles LeClerc managed to claim the final podium berth finishing 47 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Valterri Bottas and a further six seconds ahead of fifth-placed Max Verstappen. The Top Six was rounded out by Daniel Ricciardo who scored some vital points for Renault.
There was further good news for Renault as Nico Hulkenberg brought his car across the line in seventh-place ahead of Ricciardo’s replacement at Red Bull, Pierre Gasly (eighth).
The final two places in the top ten were claimed by Lance Stroll (ninth) and Daniel Kvyat (tenth).
Track
The track may not be one that younger F1 fans are familiar with but it has been around since the early 1970’s and has hosted 15 Grand Prix with the circuit making its return after a decade hiatus last season.
The track measures in at 5.842 kilometers, with the drivers set to do 53 laps this coming Sunday. The track offers 15 corners as well as two long straights, where drivers will be able to open up the taps.
In terms of the weather for this weekend, were set for ideal conditions with partly cloudy to sunny weather being forecast for the entirety of the race weekend.
Value Bet
Max Verstappen – Podium Finish – Yes @ 5/2
Yes, Red Bull are underperforming this weekend but there’s far too much value here for me to not have a strike on the young Dutchman.
Max claimed second place at last year’s French Grand Prix and has two podium finishes to his name this season. I’ll be having a moderate strike on him bagging his third podium finish here.
To Win Race Outright – Lewis Hamilton @8/10
There’s not much value here but Hamilton just can’t seem to lose at the minute. I mean, he crossed the line in second place out in Canada and still managed to claim first!
The Brit won last year’s French Grand Prix and I can see him making it two wins on the trot out in France.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
