How Max Verstappen won the 2022 F1 French Grand Prix

Max Verstappen won after pole-sitter Charles Leclerc dramatically crashed!

This is what happened lap-by-lap.

Connor McDonagh

24 Jul 2022

14:58

Order on Lap 32: Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Sainz, Russell, Alonso, Norris, Ricciardo, Ocon and Stroll.

14:56

Verstappen's lead is now up to 4.2s.

14:55

Russell loses out to Sainz after defending thin air into the chicane.

14:54

Fastest lap from Verstappen to go 3.7s clear of Hamilton.

14:53

Verstappen is edging a couple of tenths clear of Hamilton but it has been a fine drive from the seven-time champion so far.

14:52

Verstappen's lead over Hamilton is now up to 3.4s.

14:49

A five-second time penalty for Zhou for causing a collision with Schumacher.

14:48

Sainz is now in DRS range of Russell.

14:47

LAP 24/53

Sergio Perez is trapped in a Mercedes sandwich!

Russell is sitting on his tail too #FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/pPapAYJs8S
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 24, 2022

14:45

Replays show contact between Zhou and Schumacher - the Chinese driver is to blame.

14:44

Sainz has a five-second time penalty for an unsafe release.

14:44

LAP 22/53

Sainz moves past his Spanish compatriot Fernando Alonso and grabs ahold of P5 FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/jvpOUJ4HsX
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 24, 2022

14:42

Verstappen's gap over Hamilton is now up to 2.0s at the front.

14:42

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

The scream of anguish from Leclerc! pic.twitter.com/8ma0P1QdBU
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 24, 2022

14:40

Sainz now gets through Norris into the chicane. Sixth now for the Spaniard.

14:40

Sainz gets ahead of Ricciardo into Turn 1 on the mediums.

14:39

Safety Car in at the end of this lap... here we go.

Verstappen ahead of Hamilton.

14:37

LAP 19/53

Absolute heartbreak for Leclerc and Ferrari #FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/qUmPlzWEVn
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 24, 2022

14:37

Order under the Safety Car: Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Russell, Vettel (not stopped), Alonso, Norris, Latifi (not stopped), Ricciardo and Sainz.

14:36

LAP 18/53

CHARLES LECLERC IS OUT OF THE RACE!!!

The Ferrari driver hits the wall at Turn 11!#FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5SL5xQcmUc
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 24, 2022

14:34

Safety Car deployed - Hamilton, Perez and Russell all pit.

14:33

Leclerc is out of the race! He's crashed in the Ferrari.

14:32

Ferrari stay out with Leclerc as Verstappen gets past Norris.

14:32

LAP 17/53

VERSTAPPEN IS INTO THE PITS

It's a very nice stop for @redbullracing #FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/hWuiHnY0Vg
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 24, 2022

14:31

Verstappen pits on Lap 17 for hards. He rejoins in seventh.