The powerful Mercedes team is certainly not disappointed to find a more traditional circuit this weekend, after two particularly difficult courses on the temporary tracks of Baku and Monaco.
His poor harvest of seven points during these two stopovers allowed his great rival Red Bull not only to take the helm of the constructors ‘championship, but also to his star driver, Max Verstappen, to reach the top of the drivers’ standings.
Despite the concerns of the boss of the German team, Toto Wolff, who did not hide Wednesday that his cars “had not been competitive recently”, there is reason to believe that the French Grand Prix, contested this Sunday on the Paul Ricard circuit, will be a … return to business for its organization.
The statistics work in favor of Mercedes, which has won in the last two editions of the race.
Lewis Hamilton has, in fact, reached the first step of the podium in 2018 and 2019.
The pandemic forced the event to be canceled last year.
“We know very well that with this return to more … normal tracks, the Mercedes will be hard to beat,” Verstappen rightly acknowledged.
On an ejection seat
Sixth in the cumulative standings with a poor harvest of 47 points (against 101 for his teammate Hamilton), Bottas is, more than ever, sitting on a seat … ejectable.
Rumors of his departure from Mercedes at the end of the season are persistent. Well in spite of himself.
According to several credible sources, the Finn could give up his wheel next year to British hopeful George Russell, who is only waiting for the offer of a top team to express his talent.
Bottas, he would replace him at Williams (read a demotion), the team that gave him his first chance in F1 in 2013.
► Speaking of a contract, the Alpine team have let it be known that they have extended their agreement with rider Esteban Ocon until the end of the 2024 season.
► The F1 circus will experience a rare triple schedule over the next three weeks. Thus, after France, the Spielberg circuit in Austria will be the scene of the following stages, on June 27 and July 4.
