French Grand Prix predictions and F1 betting tips: Hamilton on a roll

F1 predictions, best bets and stats for this weekend's Formula 1 French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard Circuit.

Where to watch

Practice one
Sky Sports F1, 1pm Friday

Practice two
Sky Sports F1, 4pm Friday

Practice three
Sky Sports F1, midday Saturday

Qualifying
Sky Sports F1, 3pm Saturday

Race
Sky Sports F1, 2pm Sunday

Best bet

Lewis Hamilton podium finish
1pt 6-5 general

French Grand Prix preview

Lewis Hamilton won’t be paying homage to the French Grand Prix should this be its final year on the Formula 1 calendar but may find his 2022 Mercedes and the Paul Ricard Circuit are perfectly suited to one another.

Despite being a two-time winner in Le Castellet, Hamilton has previously accused the south of France venue - whose contract expires this year and is unlikely to be renewed - of staging “boring races”, only to get caught up in a thriller 12 months ago.

Max Verstappen passed the Brit on the penultimate lap to claim victory last year, franking the form that’s seen nine of the last 17 races held at Paul Ricard won by the eventual drivers’ champion.

Verstappen is the favourite to claim a potentially prophetic victory but bookmakers aren’t as strong on the Red Bull racer’s chances as previous heats after back-to-back wins for Ferrari and the increasing influence of Mercedes on the front of the grid.

The Silver Arrows are enjoying their best run of the season and although the layers don't rate their chances of a first win of 2022 highly, Hamilton should be in contention for at least a fourth successive podium with the team planning to introduce further upgrades this weekend.

Hamilton has finally got to grips with the W13, which should excel through the plentiful high and medium-speed corners of the silky smooth Paul Ricard track.

The seven-time world champion, who will sit out Friday’s first practice, and his teammate George Russell have the potential to throw a spanner in the works of Ferrari’s revival.

Charles Leclerc’s deserved win in Austria saw him trim Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ standings to 38 points but the Scuderia continue to be dogged by mechanical problems, while the issues they had with tyre wear in France last year serve as a warning sign to backers.

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