Valtteri Bottas admits that Mercedes are “definitely not the favourites” for this weekend’s Formula 1 French Grand Prix.
F1 returns to the Circuit Paul Ricard for its first race since 1990 with Ferrari ace Sebastian Vettel leading the drivers’ standings ahead of Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Bottas.
Vettel’s victory in Canada was his third of the season and Bottas, who finished second in Montreal, says Mercedes need to keep on improving in France.
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Mercedes could have a brand-new upgraded engine for the power-dependent circuit. Bottas told Sky Sports: “It’s a different grand prix, different kind of tyres and it’s positive we’re going to have the new engine, which we would have needed [in Canada] to win the race.
“Hopefully we can have some other upgrades as well on the car because every team is developing now race by race and the competition is getting tougher. We came [to Canada] knowing that in theory it would be a good track for us. We came with the old engine thinking there’s a very good chance we were going to be fighting for the win.
“But it wasn’t the case and it shows how tough the development race is now and we need to keep improving.
“We are definitely not the favourites for the French Grand Prix, that’s a fact.”
2018 F1 French Grand Prix
- When: Sunday 24 June
- Race start time: 3.10pm
- Where: Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet
- Circuit distance: 5.842km (3.630 miles)
- Circuit guide: f1.com
French GP schedule: practice, qualifying and race
When are the French GP practice sessions?
Practice one takes place on Friday at 11am (UK time) and practice two is at 3pm. Saturday’s practice three session starts at midday.
When is qualifying?
Qualifying for the French GP starts at 3pm on Saturday.
When does the French GP start?
Sunday’s race starts at 3.10pm.
How to watch the F1 French GP
Sky Sports F1 will bring live coverage from the practice sessions, qualifying and the race at Circuit Paul Ricard. Channel 4 will show highlights from qualifying and the race.
French GP on Sky Sports
Friday 22 June
- 10.30am: French GP practice one build-up
- 11am: French GP practice one live
- 2.45pm: French GP practice two build-up
- 3pm: French GP practice two live
Saturday 23 June
- 11.45am: French GP practice three build-up
- 12pm: French GP practice three live
- 2pm: French GP qualifying build-up
- 3pm: French GP qualifying live
- 6.15pm: The F1 Show
Sunday 24 June
- 1.30pm: French GP pit lane
- 2.30pm: French GP On The Grid
- 3.10pm: F1 French Grand Prix live
- 5.30pm: French GP paddock
French GP betting odds
Latest prices according to Oddschecker (as of 20 June).
To win the French GP:
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): 13/8
- Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari): 9/5
- Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes): 7/1
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 8/1
- Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull): 13/1
- Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari): 14/1
- Nico Hulkenberg (Renault): 750/1
- Carlos Sainz (Renault): 1,000/1
- Esteban Ocon (Force India): 1,000/1
- Fernando Alonso (McLaren): 1,000/1