Hamilton sizzles in France, restores championship lead

Le Castellet, June 24 

Lewis Hamilton roared to victory with a polished lights-to-flag drive for Mercedes in Sunday's restored French Grand Prix to regain top spot in the world championship. The four-time world champion led from start to finish, bar one lap following his pit stop, as he claimed his first win in France, his third this year and the 65th of his career.

Hamilton came home seven seconds clear of Dutchman Max Verstappen with Kimi Raikkonen taking the third spot for Ferrari after passing his Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo with five laps remaining.

Hamilton's consummate performance came after fellow four-time champion and pre-race leader Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari crashed into his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas on the opening lap. Both suffered damage and, under an early Safety Car, limped to the pits for repairs. They rejoined from the back of the field to finish fifth and seventh, respectively, either side of Kevin Magnussen of Haas, who was sixth. Vettel had to serve a five seconds penalty, which he took at his second pit stop.

“Great work guys, great work everyone,” said Hamilton, who had watched England defeat Panama 6-1 in the World Cup before the race.  

The race began in stifling heat with air temperatures soaring over 30 degrees Celsius and the track close to 46 degrees, to which a gusting mistral wind added further challenges.

There was immediate drama on the opening lap when, at Turn One, Vettel rammed into the rear of Bottas's Mercedes in an incident that immediately required the deployment of the Safety Car. Hamilton, from his record 75th pole position, made a clean departure, but in another incident two of the home French drivers were involved in another crash as Pierre Gasly of Toro Rosso collided with Esteban Ocon of Force India. Both suffered comprehensive damage to their cars and had to retire, leaving Romain Grosjean to carry the French flag after surviving an incident when Vettel made contact with his Haas car.

Results 

• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:30:11.385
•  Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +7.090

3) Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +25.888
4) Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) + 34.736
5) Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +1:01.935

— AFP