French GP qualifying results: Verstappen grabs pole with Hamilton 2nd as Schumacher crashes out after reaching first Q2

MAX VERSTAPPEN stormed to pole position at the French Grand Prix after holding off Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

The Dutch star, 23, recorded the only sub-1:30.00 lap to grab the top spot on the grid for Red Bull in Sunday’s race for the first time since the 2021 opener in Bahrain.

Max Verstappen charged to his second pole of the season after holding off Lewis Hamilton to start at the front of the grid for Sunday’s French GPLewis Hamilton could only finish second behind Verstappen for Sunday’s race in France

Verstappen will now start on the front row alongside Hamilton, with Bottas and team-mate Perez in third and fourth respectively.

Pierre Gasly took sixth place to split the two Ferraris, with Carlos Sainz enjoying a better afternoon than team-mate Charles Leclerc, who struggled in pursuit of a third straight pole.

Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo completed the top ten after an exciting afternoon of racing at the Circuit Paul Ricard.

Verstappen had gone quickest in Q1, marginally ahead of Hamilton, team-mate Perez and Bottas.

But the big story came further down the grid, as Mick Schumacher reached Q2 for the first time in his fledgling career after finishing 14th.

In a cruel twist of fate, though, the son of F1 legend Michael crashed having already set his Q1 time, with the red flag waved, cutting the session short.

That meant Schumacher was unable to push for a spot in Q3, sitting out the second session and will start Sunday’s race from 15th.

Yuki Tsunoda will start from the back of the grid after failing to set a time following a crash early in the session.

Mick Schumacher had his car lifted off the track on a crane after crashing out late in Q1 having finished the session 14th

CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Lance Stroll, Nikita Mazepin, Kimi Raikkonen and Nicholas Latifi also failed to make it to Q2.

Joining Schumacher in failing to make it to Q3 where George Russell, Antonio Giovinazzi, Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Ocon after a much less eventful session.

Mercedes stormed to the top two positions in Q2, with Bottas and Hamilton leading Red Bull pair Perez and Verstappen.

But Verstappen ensured Mercedes didn’t secure their first pole since Spain – bagging Red Bull’s first top spot on the grid since the opening race of the season in Bahrain.

MORE TO FOLLOW…

F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info