Paul Ricard: Last News

LIVE – Updated at 18:42The Formula One season has just one race left before the mid-season summer break with Sebastian Vettel’s retirement announcement top of the talking points heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix. The four-time world champion announced on Thursday that he will be retiring from F1 at the end of this season, with just 10 races left of a 16-year career which saw him win world titles at Red Bull from 2010-2013.

Daniel Ricciardo suffered an embarrassing language blunder as he attempted to conduct an interview in Italian following the French Grand Prix. The Australian F1 star finished a solid ninth in his McLaren at Paul Ricard, two places behind teammate Lando Norris.

F1 races, the top three are traditionally interviewed by an ex-grand prix driver-turned-broadcaster after stepping out of their cars and before the podium ceremony. The likes of Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert and Mark Webber have done the job and following the race at Paul Ricard, it was the turn of Coulthard, who is co-commentator for Channel 4.As the former McLaren and Williams driver quizzed racer winner Max Verstappen, Di Resta, who had been on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports F1 in the absence of Brundle, was broadcast on the official F1 feed urging his fellow Scot to cut the interview short. READ MORE: Daniel Ricciardo disagrees with Sky Sports F1 reporter over 'Alpine sandwich' after French GP The slip was spotted by a number of fans on social media, who were unimpressed by Di Resta’s accidental intervention.“The irony, when this is exactly what I'm saying to Paul Di Resta during his commentary,” joked one fan on Twitter while another added: “Ironically, something I've been saying about Paul all afternoon!”“There should be an option to mute certain broadcasters because I cannot listen to PDR,” said a third.

READ MORE: Nico Rosberg tells Ferrari they made a "mistake" despite taking pole for French GPIt's a similar picture in the World Championship standings as Charles Leclerc will have been looking to close the gap to his rival this weekend with him trailing the Dutch driver by 38 points before lights out this afternoon.Do you think Leclerc can claw his way to top of the Championship after his third crash in first position this year? Let us know in the comments sectionFerrari's Spanish driver was handed a five-second penalty for an unsafe release during the pit stop under the safety car.The Grand Prix has proved to be a formality for Verstappen as he pushed on and quickly regained the lead following the safety car from Leclerc's crash. Sainz managed to climb back up the grid and fought his way into the podium positions on lap 42, despite him being asked to pit mid-way through overtaking Perez.As the race came to a close, Checo and George Russell battled it out for third with Hamilton comfortably securing second as Red Bull chased a double podium.Following his heartbreaking exit from the Grand Prix, Leclerc revealed that he was responsible for the crash.

Charles Leclerc enjoyed himself more before the French Grand Prix than he did during it as he tried to wind-up Lando Norris midway through a pre-race interview. Leclerc's F1 title ambitions suffered another serious blow as he crashed out on lap 18 at Paul Ricard. The Monegasque driver let out a toe-curling scream once he realised he could no long start his car after planting it in the barriers.

Ferrari fans have had enough of the team's bizarre strategy decisions after a hugely disappointing French Grand Prix. The Prancing Horse had looked set for a considerable haul of points going into the afternoon after Charles Leclerc qualified on pole at Paul Ricard.

F1 season, but Mercedes are already counting down the days until 2023.There had been talk of the Silver Arrows challenging for victory at Paul Ricard, but unless the Red Bulls and the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc hit trouble in the race, that is unlikely in the extreme. On the face of it, qualifying fourth with Lewis Hamilton and sixth with George Russell represented a decent day at the office for the reigning constructors’ champions.

F1 championship with the Silver Arrows, pulled no punches as he assessed the pace of the W13 following qualifying at Paul Ricard. While Lewis Hamilton and George Russell qualified a respectable fourth and sixth respectively, they were well off the pace set by pole-sitter Charles Leclerc.

Toto Wolff conceded Mercedes may have to sever ties with junior driver Nyck De Vries following his run-out in practice ahead of French Grand Prix.F1 teams are mandated to give designated ‘young drivers’ a practice session on two separate occasions over the course of the season. De Vries stood in for Lewis Hamilton during free practice one at Paul Ricard and finished ninth in the pecking order, a respectable half a second off George Russell, who will hand his car over for a session later in the season.It is unclear whether that place will go to De Vries other another driver from the Silver Arrows’ talent pool.

F1 season so far in France this weekend.The Silver Arrows’ defence of the constructors’ title has been dogged by their struggle to remedy the extreme bouncing and porpoising brought about by the sport’s new regulations. As a result, Red Bull and Ferrari have stolen a march over the first half of the season, winning all 11 races between them so far.But recent grand prix have seen Mercedes looking much more competitive and the smooth nature of the Paul Ricard track is expected to suit the W13.

Formula 1, under the ownership of Liberty Media, are determined to take the sport to exotic new venues.Miami has been added to the calendar this year and a third American race, in Las Vegas, will join in 2023. Talks are also advanced about taking the series back to South Africa as soon as next year. The increasing number of new races has cast doubt over some of the venues in the sport’s traditional European heartlands, with some set to lose their spots in the coming years.