F1 French Grand Prix Odds Preview: Red Bull Defends Against Resurgent Ferrari

Formula One returns to the Circuit Paul Ricard with the Championship beginning to get interesting again. Charles LeClerc and Ferrari raced to a much-needed victory in Austria as they cut the odds and inched closer to Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Still, the F1 French Grand Prix odds favor the Dutchman and his team though not by much. The race this Sunday could see the odds further tighten if LeClerc can earn another top finish.

2022 F1 French Grand Prix Information

• Race: French Grand Prix
• Location: Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, Var
• Day/Time: Sunday, 9:00 a.m. ET
• Television: ESPN

Verstappen and LeClerc Remain Top Dogs

It’s business as usual with Verstappen and LeClerc as the favorites to win the French Grand Prix. They’ve combined to win nine of the 11 races of the season thus far. In Verstappen’s case, he’s finished on the podium on all but three races while LeClerc has finished in the top-two five times.

The French Grand Prix odds tends to be a chalky affair with Verstappen and LeClerc. The two are heavily expected to hit the podium and earn points. They are also the favorites to win pole position while Verstappen is the runaway bet to run the fastest lap during the race itself.

Verstappen dominated in Le Castellet last year. He earned the trifecta by winning pole position, racing the fastest lap, and finishing first. The defending champion has not gone consecutive races without finishing first this season. But with LeClerc and Ferrari on the same page, they get plenty of action on the F1 French Grand Prix odds board.

The Midfield Race Stays Hot

If it’s a two-car show at the top, the battle at midfield is far more interesting. McLaren-Mercedes and Alpine-Renault are deadlocked at 81 points and this race could determine who earns sole possession of the fourth spot in the Constructors’ Championship. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris sits at seventh place in the driver standings but the likes of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso have had strong showings.

“With the summer break fast approaching,” Norris started. “It’s important we continue to build on our [McLaren] results this season as the midfield gets tighter. Finishing P7 and P9 in Austria was positive after a difficult start to the weekend and it’s great to remain in this battle for fourth in the constructor standings.”

The Briton has been the best driver outside of the “Big Three” of Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes. He finished third in the Emilia Romagna and has earned a top-10 spot in all but three races. Norris has carried McLaren as his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, has only earned points in three races. For McLaren to get the edge over Alpine-Renault, Norris will need to racing in a stellar fashion and Ricciardo will need to get better results.

No French Toasts

Speaking of Ocon, the Frenchman would love to break through in his native France. That’s a dream at best as the French Grand Prix odds have him at 175-1 to win. A podium finish is also a long shot at 20-1 though finishing in the top 10 is highly likely. His compatriot, Pierre Gasly, is an even more unlikely winner. A top-10 finish would already be akin to winning the race for him.

Ocon has finished with points in all but three races. He had his best result in Austria by finishing fifth, thanks partly to the retirements of Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz Jr. The latter is having issues with his car and could start the French Grand Prix at the back of the grid. His loss could be Ocon’s and other racers’ gain as that opens a spot in the top five.

As for the French constructor, Alpine-Renault, this would be a good race to overtake McLaren. The team has earned points from both drivers in three of the last four races. It would have been four straight had Ocon not suffered a fuel pump problem. The McLaren-Alpine battle for fourth heats up and the French Grand Prix betting odds have this one as tight as Verstappen-LeClerc.