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

14:27

Order on Lap 15: Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Russell, Alonso, Norris, Ocon, Ricciardo and Sainz.

14:26

Leclerc is now 1.3s ahead of Verstappen at the lead of the race.

Hamilton is running 6.5s off the Dutchman.

14:25

Sainz moves up to 10th past Stroll - easy move with DRS.

14:22

LAP 11/53

So close yet so far for @Max33Verstappen

These two are certainly keeping us on our toes so far! #FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/bHO2xWArrS
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 24, 2022

14:20

Sainz is told "he is doing a good job".

The Ferrari driver replies: "It doesn't feel that way, but okay."

14:19

Onto Lap 10: Verstappen is still in DRS range but can't get close enough to make a move.

14:18

Magnussen is the first man to make a pit stop, dropping down to 20th now.

14:15

The order on Lap 7: Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Russell, Alonso, Norris, Ocon, Ricciardo And Stroll.

14:13

Verstappen closes in again with the use of DRS but can't get past Leclerc just yet on Lap 6.

Perez is still right behind Hamilton.

14:11

"Controlling yourself well at the moment, good pace," Verstappen is told over Red Bull team radio.

14:10

Ocon has been given a five-second penalty for colliding with Tsunoda on Lap 1.

14:08

Verstappen is now in DRS range of Leclerc. They are 4s clear of Hamilton in third.

14:08

Perfect start from Hamilton there shown in the replays.

14:07

Leclerc's lead is up to 1.3s at the end of Lap 3 - crucially, out of DRS range.

14:06

Order on Lap 2: Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Alonso, Russell, Noris, Ricciardo, Ocon, Stroll, Vettel, Albon, Magnussen.

14:04

Leclerc leads into Turn 1 ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Alonso.

14:04

Here we go... it's lights out and away we go for the 2022 French Grand Prix!

14:00

The formation lap is now underway at the Circuit Paul Ricard.

13:58

All drivers start on Mediums except Bottas, Gasly and Sainz on the hards.

13:55

Five minutes away from lights out

13:54

The grid

Leclerc, Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton, Norris, Russell, Alonso, Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Ocon, Bottas, Vettel, Albon, Gasly, Stroll, Zhou, Schumacher, Latifi, Sainz and Magnussen.

13:50