Verstappen takes his first sweep of pole, fastest lap and victory

2021 French Grand Prix stats and facts

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Max Verstappen is increasingly the driver to beat in Formula 1.

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Sunday’s race would have been his third win in a row, had he not been robbed by a tyre blow-out in Baku two weeks ago.

The French Grand Prix was the 13th win of Verstappen’s career, putting him level with Alberto Ascari and David Coulthard, as well as the 13th time he’s set fastest lap. It followed his fifth pole position, tying him Giuseppe Farina, Chris Amon, Clay Regazzoni, Patrick Tambay and Keke Rosberg,

Verstappen added the bonus point for fastest lap, becoming the first driver this year to score a maximum 26 points in a race.

Honda last won three in a row in 1991
It was also Verstappen’s first ‘hat trick’ of pole, fastest lap and win. The world championship leader is the 46th driver in the history of the sport to achieve this feat. Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most such ‘hat tricks’ with 22 – four more than Lewis Hamilton.

The Mercedes driver looked like he was steaming towards his 100th career victory when he won three of the first four races. Red Bull’s sweep of the last three rounds have put that on hold. But if Hamilton wins either of the next two races at the Red Bull Ring, he could take that 100th win in his home race at Silverstone.

This was the first time Red Bull have won three races in a row since the end of the V6 hybrid turbo era in 2013, when Sebastian Vettel won nine consecutive races. Engine supplier Honda has to go back 30 years to the opening four races of 1991 for the last time it did the same.

It was also Red Bull’s first win in France. When they first entered the sport in 2005 the energy drink was banned from sale in the country, a restriction which was lifted in 2008, the year of the last French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, where the team never placed higher than sixth.

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Lando Norris, McLaren, Paul Ricard, 2021
Norris’ points-scoring run continued
Lando Norris extended his run as the only driver to have scored points in every races this year. With Ferrari posting their first no-score since the end of last year, McLaren regained third in the championship thanks to Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, the latter equalling his best finish for the team to date with sixth place.

Ferrari’s failure to score means only three teams have collected points in every race: McLaren and Honda-powered pair Red Bull and AlphaTauri. Williams and Haas remain yet to score, but Haas’ ascent to ninth in the constructors’ championship at the previous race proved short-lived – Williams are back in front thanks to George Russell’s 12th place.

None of the 20 starters retired, which last happened at the Austrian Grand Prix in 2019. The first time this happened was 60 years ago at the Dutch Grand Prix, when all 15 starters took the chequered flag. F1 will return to the scene of that race, Zandvoort, in September.

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Review the year so far in statistics here:

Have you spotted any other interesting stats and facts from the French Grand Prix? Share them in the comments.

2021 French Grand Prix

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    Author information

    Keith Collantine
    Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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    35 comments on “Verstappen takes his first sweep of pole, fastest lap and victory”

    1. Profile Photo

      Jere (@jerejj)
      21st June 2021, 16:20

      Additionally, 10th time overall in F1 and 6th in the hybrid era that everyone reached the chequered flag in a race. Funnily, I predicted everyone to reach the chequered flag on F1 Play.

      Perez has finished in the top three in two consecutive races for the first time in F1. Coincidently, on the 50th anniversary of Pedro Rodriguez’ last podium. Also, the circuit, where he made his final F1 start.

      Hamilton is on a three-race winless streak for the first time since 2019.

      McLaren’s best result in Le Castellet since Senna’s 3rd in 1990.

      Team Silverstone had never previously scored points in Le Castellet.

      Bottas’ first non-3rd points finish this season.

      BTW, what’s the most recent race preceding the French GP without not only any SC or VSC neutralizations, but even a single yellow caution? Nothing pops up for me.

      1. Profile Photo

        RandomMallard (@)
        21st June 2021, 16:35

        @jerejj Didn’t Monaco not have any yellow flags or were there some on lap 1? I don’t think there were any that I can remember though.

        1. Profile Photo

          Jere (@jerejj)
          21st June 2021, 17:45

          @randommallard Now that I think, yes, Monaco didn’t have any yellow flag cautions either, not even a very brief one. Only in practice and qualifying sessions.

      2. Profile Photo

        James Bond (@jamesbond)
        22nd June 2021, 8:57

        Thanks for this data. Very interesting!

    2. Rosli91
      21st June 2021, 16:22

      The last time HAM was 12pts behind the champ leader after round 7 is 2017.

      Interestingly all the podium results of VER and HAM after round 7 are the same as VET and HAM in 2017 (3 wins, 3 and 2 2nd places for them respectively).

      We all know VET/Ferrari went off a tangent after their superb early form in 17’, will VER/Rbr experience the same? Will HAM do another 2017 or perhaps age is catching up?

      Super exciting season!

    3. Profile Photo

      Plossl (@)
      21st June 2021, 16:48

      Not exactly a stat but will make you laugh, the following was my predictions for the race

      Pole Time – 01:29.988
      Pole – Max Verstappen
      Position 1 – Lewis Hamilton
      Position 2 – Max Verstappen
      Position 3 – Valtteri Bottas
      Position 4 – Sergio Perez
      Position 5 – Lando Norris

      So close, yet so far….Lando didnt let me down though :-)

      1. Profile Photo

        Jere (@jerejj)
        21st June 2021, 17:52

        @f1-plossl I predicted P3-P5 correctly, P1-P2 the wrong way round like you. Pole position also right, while my pole time was about three-tenths slower.

      2. Profile Photo

        wsrgo (@wsrgo)
        21st June 2021, 19:10

        @f1-plossl I had the exact same prediction! I guess we both expected Mercedes to be stronger than they ultimately were.

      3. Profile Photo

        Ivan B (@njoydesign)
        21st June 2021, 19:57

        I predicted all, for the first time ever. But fell asleep and missed to press “submit” button on time… 😭

      4. Profile Photo

        NS Biker (@rekibsn)
        22nd June 2021, 3:49

        If only the race had ended a couple of laps earlier. If only.
        Expecting that there will be a whole bunch sharing the glory though.

        1. erikje
          22nd June 2021, 14:22

          You are of course referring to Baku.
          I get that.

        2. Profile Photo

          Plossl (@)
          22nd June 2021, 22:49

          Check the Pole time, that would be the tiebreaker…

      5. papaya
        22nd June 2021, 10:01

        Put Max Verstappen on Position 1 would be safe bet for next 5 races.

    4. Profile Photo

      Mr Fabulous (@mrfabulous)
      21st June 2021, 16:51

      Mathematically, Nikita Mazepin can still be World Drivers Champion this season

      1. Profile Photo

        Robbie (@robbie)
        21st June 2021, 16:55

        Oh great, had to bring that up eh? Now I won’t sleep tonight.

      2. Rodric Ewulf
        21st June 2021, 20:36

        Come back to tell when Nikita Mazepin no longer stands any mathematical chance to be WDC. That would be a little more interesting.

      3. Profile Photo

        Jelle van der Meer (@)
        22nd June 2021, 10:50

        You can keep posting this comment (not really a stat) till at least after the Belgium GP.

        The earliest possible moment Mazepin mathematically no longer can be 2021 World Champion will be after the Dutch GP.

    5. Profile Photo

      Robbie (@robbie)
      21st June 2021, 16:53

      Way to go Max! What an awesome weekend!! And RBR. And Honda. And Checo.

    6. Profile Photo

      Robbie (@robbie)
      21st June 2021, 16:56

      Going by the picture of Max above, he did it with one hand too. Impressive.

    7. jff
      21st June 2021, 18:24

      the end of the V6 hybrid turbo era

      How time flies ;)

    8. Profile Photo

      wsrgo (@wsrgo)
      21st June 2021, 19:09

      Oh, and with Ocon’s deal confirmed, Team Enstone is set to start 2 consecutive seasons with the same line up, for the first time since 2014-15 (Grosjean, Maldonado).

    9. Jonathan Parkin
      21st June 2021, 21:06

      Another interesting stat is who is still in line for finishing every race this year. Only eight drivers have done it; Dan Gurney, Richie Ginther, Michael Schumacher, Kim Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld, Max Chilton, Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton(×2). Only Michael and Lewis (2nd occasion) have finished every lap

      In Mick Schumacher’s case his closest comparison is Max Chilton whose first retirement came in his 26th race

    10. Chaitanya
      22nd June 2021, 1:43

      Mick Doohan(F3) and Jack Doohan(MotoGP) won the French GP 25 years apart at the same circuit in different categories of racing.

      1. I have an opinion
        22nd June 2021, 3:05

        Mick was the 500cc champ, used to hang out with Michael Schumacher, and inspired Michael to name his son Mick.

        1. Dave
          23rd June 2021, 10:12

          Thanks for the reveal!

      2. Dave
        23rd June 2021, 10:12

        “Mick DoohAn(F3) aND jacK dooHAn(mOtogp) wOn THE frencH gP 25 yeArS aPArT at THE SAME CircuIT IN dIFferEnT caTegoRIes of RAciNg.”

        Hey you…You think we will forget what you said about Max. We won’t.

    11. Ajaya
      22nd June 2021, 4:26

      If MV continues this way. Lh can kiss his 8th goodbyes…lol

      No way he’s getting good another one.. and I’m one who believes lh is a fantastic driver

    12. Bonzo
      22nd June 2021, 7:22

      No Ferrari power unit in de top 10, when was the last time this happened?

      1. Bonzo
        22nd June 2021, 8:11

        Not that long, last 2 races of 2020.

    13. Profile Photo

      JL (@j-l)
      22nd June 2021, 8:13

      I was quite surprised at how different the pole vs. win ratio is between Max and Charles.

      1. peter
        22nd June 2021, 12:28

        Exclude all of Charles’ poles with the illegal fuel trick and the ratio gets realistic.

        No the RBR rear wing wasn’t illegal, it passed all tests.

      2. Profile Photo

        Esploratore (@esploratore1)
        22nd June 2021, 19:28

        Yes, leclerc is a good qualifier, verstappen isn’t, but not in the means he’s bad, you can see it like prost and senna, in this sense leclerc is senna, verstappen is prost.

      3. JI
        22nd June 2021, 21:21

        Charles got 95% of his poles with a cheating Ferrari….remember

    14. erikje
      22nd June 2021, 16:05

      Sky”

      HONDA: The first time since Ayrton Senna’s run of four back-to-back wins in 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟏 Trofee

    15. Profile Photo

      Esploratore (@esploratore1)
      22nd June 2021, 19:30

      Crazy that the first time this season a driver won + fastest lap is the 7th race, obviously would’ve happened the 6th too.

    Comments are closed.