Red Bull engine chief expects advantage over Ferrari at French GP

Red Bull engine consultant Masashi Yamamoto is expecting Red Bull to have an advantage over Ferrari at the French Grand Prix.

With four races taking place in July, the first two have been won by the Scuderia; Carlos Sainz took his debut F1 victory at Silverstone, while Charles Leclerc seized the win in Austria one week later.

Max Verstappen did prove victorious at the Sprint over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, though, and remains at the top of the World Championship standings on 208 points, giving him a 38-point lead over Leclerc.

Ahead of the upcoming Grands Prix in France and Hungary before F1 embarks on its summer break, Yamamoto has urged Red Bull to ensure that they do not make any mistakes at the Circuit Paul Ricard.

Yamamoto highlights importance of French GP

The French Grand Prix marks the beginning of the second half of the 2022 F1 season, and Yamamoto – former Managing Director of Honda and now an engine consultant at Red Bull – feels that it is an important weekend.

He also believes that his team will perform well at the track.

"I think France is more in Red Bull's favour, so we can't drop it," Yamamoto told Japanese website as-web.

"It's a crucial point."

Will Hungary be advantage Ferrari?

Whilst Yamamoto has high hopes for Red Bull in France, he admits that it could be a different story at the Hungarian Grand Prix one week later.

The Hungaroring could suit the Scuderia more, according to Yamamoto.

"In Hungary, on the contrary, I have a feeling that Ferrari will win because they have better traction at low and medium speeds," he explained.

"But I think Red Bull will do something to counter that."

Yamamoto ultimately hopes that Red Bull – who currently lead Ferrari by 56 points in the Constructors' Championship – can enter the summer break on a high note.

"I want to finish the two races before the summer break in good shape," the engine consultant concluded.