French GP: Leclerc's edge vs Max and why Merc are set to challenge

Ferrari are confident they have wrestled back momentum against Red Bull as the F1 2022 season speeds onto the French Grand Prix, where Mercedes could also find themselves back in contention at the front.

Ferrari and Red Bull - and their star drivers Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen - have been the title protagonists so far this year and while Verstappen has built a solid points lead, Leclerc ended a seven-race drought to win last time out in Austria and re-energise his challenge.

Austria was also encouraging for the chasing team and driver because of the turnaround in pace, with Ferrari seemingly finally matching Red Bull's straight-line speed while also maintaining their edge in the corners.

That has raised the stakes for this weekend's French GP from Le Castellet, with all sessions live on Sky Sports F1 and the race on Sunday at 2pm.

"We had a disadvantage compared to the Red Bull, no doubt, in terms of straight line speed, especially in DRS zones," explained Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto on his team's improvement.

"We worked a lot on it. We introduced a new rear wing, only on one car to start [for Leclerc in Canada] and then on both cars since the UK. And with that new rear wing, I think we simply reduced the gap.

"We have closed the gap we had in terms of speed. I think they still have got a slight advantage, but very little or negligible."

Indeed, in Austria, Leclerc easily overtook Verstappen three times in the race - marking the first time this season the Dutchman had been passed and beaten on a Sunday - while the Ferrari car was also kinder on tyres.

"In the power limited [corners], we are very close," added Binotto. "Then it's only about the grip limited corners where we can make the difference."

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