Here’s the report from Paul Ricard...
Right...it was all pretty simple in France for Hamilton. A few questions about Vettel and Bottas’ collision but the rest of the face lacked much interest.
Thank you for joining me for the full 53 laps.
Until we meet again...
Lauda says Vettel’s five-second punishment was “too little”. So something for everyone to discuss for a bit...
Championship standings...
1 Lewis Hamilton 145
2 Sebastian Vettel 131
3 Daniel Ricciardo 96
4 Valtteri Bottas 92
5 Kimi Räikkönen 83
6 Max Verstappen 68
7 Nico Hulkenberg 34
Bottas’ floor was “totally shot” so he’s done well to get round, in general.
Unique indeed...
One of the more unique trophies for the collection 😜@LewisHamilton grabs his third win of 2018 to match Vettel's tally
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 24, 2018
And he now leads the German by 14 points#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/iRRhp3VPko
“What a race it was!” says Crofty. It was a good first lap but really, there was not much to shout about after that.
Hamilton receives a trophy which consists of a gorilla painted in the colours of the French flag, which is something we should also aspire to have in our trophy cabinet.
Updated
Hamilton jogs to the podium to celebrate his win. Good news, it’s now time for the national anthem.
“Ah man, that’s crazy” is Hamilton’s reaction to a first-corner collision.
Verstappen describes the first lap as “carnage”.
The top three are off in search of champagne and and a podium.
Full listings...
🏁 CLASSIFICATION (RACE FINISH) 🏁
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 24, 2018
A controlled race from Hamilton and the 26th different circuit where he's won!#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/EAr0dCXJ5f
Raikkonen: “It felt quite slippery on the first corner.”
Hamilton said: “I feel very grateful, just grateful for a solid weekend.”
Hamilton went on to praise the weather, it really was easy for him.
Hamilton found it so simple he wished everyone a happy Sunday and acknowledged England’s victory over Panama.
A great win for Hamilton, he looked supremely confident throughout and is right to be at the top of the Championship once again and will be looking to maintain such form.
There was very little to note after the the first lap, though, really. Some rain might have made it vaguely interesting.
Here is your top six...
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
3) Kimi Raikkonen — Ferrari
4) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
5) Sebastian Vettel — Ferrari
6) Kevin Magnussen — Haas
Hamilton wins French Grand Prix!!
Lap 53/53: Hamilton has been in front from the start to the finish pretty much and he waltzes past the chequered flag. Hamilton at least regains the Championship lead with this victory but it was in no way a classic.
The race was dull but David Guetta is here, so no need to worry!
Updated
Lap 52/53: Virtual Safety Car deployed due to debris on the track. This could be an early end to the race.
Updated
Lap 51/53: Stroll is off and there is debris on the track! Plenty of damage to the front there. The yellow flag is up after his tyre blew and damaged the front wing.
Lap 50/53: Alonso is looking to be finishing last but the tyre change will allow him to try for a fastest lap of the race. What a time to be alive.
Sainz has lost all power, too, so he will be dropping out of the top six and eighth.
Lap 49/53: Bottas versus Magnussen is the last thing to watch out for. Calm me down. Who will finish seventh?
Horner confirms Ricciardo has suffered some car damage which has resulted in his car slowing. He also thinks Hamilton is toying with Verstappen for his own amusement.
Lap 48/53: You know when there’s little focus on the leader that it’s not been a great race. All very easy.
In amusing news, Alonso has pitted with five laps to go.
Lap 47/53: Two blocks from Ricciardo on Raikonnen kept the Ferrari man behind him but he would not be held off for a third time as he overtook the slowing Red Bull thanks to greater speed. Looked relatively easy in the end on the back straight.
Lap 46/53: Raikonnen is looking for a podium place, which is probably the only thing left to play for in this race.
Lap 45/53: Vandoorne is closing on his team-mate Alonso. What a bad old day for the Spaniard.
Ricciardo is trying to push himself through traffic but it is a bit of a struggle with Raikonnen not too far behind him.
Lap 44/53: It’s going to take something impressive to chase down Hamilton. Can Verstappen offer much in his vibrating car?
Lap 43/53: Bottas has just set the fastest lap of the race and that sort of speed will help him chase down the top seven.
Raikonnen is being told to push as Ricciardo is slowing.
Latest...
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
3) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
4) Kimi Raikkonen — Ferrari
5) Sebastian Vettel — Ferrari
6) Carlos Sainz — Renault
Lap 42/53: Hamilton now doing a bit of lapping as he maintains his four-second lead.
Verstappen is annoyed by the vibration of his car but is happy enough with his vehicle.
No sign of rain, either, which is good news.
Updated
Lap 41/53: Vettel has had his tyre change to give him a run for the final 12 laps. Ooooof! And there is the five-second penalty out of the way, too. He did not lose a place but he is a long way off the top four.
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
3) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
4) Kimi Raikkonen — Ferrari
5) Sebastian Vettel — Ferrari
Lap 40/53: Alonso has “no tyres” and “no brakes” which are quite useful in motorsport. I’m not sure the Spaniard wants to carry on.
Bottas went into the pits and he was pretty slow getting out due to some issue or other at the back with the jack. Vettel needs to come in.
Lap 39/53: Vettel looking pedestrian as Raikonnen overtakes him to go into fourth. Raikonnen has looked in fine form in recent laps, so merited the overtake. Vettel really needs a pit stop, doesn’t he?
Lap 38/53: Right...can anyone catch Hamilton? Looks like it might be a touch tricky as the Englishman has pretty much lead from the start.
Ocon is “very, very disappointed”. He also said he had a great start but he was out after the three corners, so that’s generous. He’s pretty annoyed to not get longer on his home race.
37/53: Raikonnen now has the fastest lap to his name, while his team-mate looks like he won’t be challenging too much. Time for a tyre change?
Ricciardo showed how overtaking Vettel is done.
LAP 34/53
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 24, 2018
Ricciardo pounces on Vettel to re-take the final podium spot
📻: "Nice job mate, good move"#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/KaFWJypgPR
Lap 36/53: Vettel’s tyres are not in great nick and Raikkonen is chasing him down.
Hamilton is about five seconds ahead of Verstappen, as it stands.
Bottas is in sixth but he’s a long way off the front five.
Grosjean did not sound happy about his penalty award, either.
Lap 35/53: All the pit stopping seems to have been done now. Not a bad top four going into the final 18 laps, either.
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
3) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
4) Sebastian Vettel — Ferrari
Lap 34/53: Raikonnen is now in the lead, as he has not pitted. Ferrari will be hoping he can ruffle Hamilton’s feathers in front but the man in first will need to pit soon enough. And now he has.
Ricciardo looks like he might be going for Vettel in an attempt to move fourth, using his fresh tyres to great effect. And there he goes...
Lap 33/53: Leclerc has pitted to sort out his tyre issue and celebrates by going beyond Stroll.
Hamilton is coming in for a pit, too. A sensible decision to get him in with 20 laps to go. Soft compound tyres for the Mercedes man.
Lap 32/53: Grosjean is the latest to receive a five-second penalty for an incident on the first lap.
Alonso is doing his best to follow his victory in Le Mans last week by getting up the field here but it looks like it will be tricky.
Lap 31/53: Hamilton is dominating at the front and is well clear of Raikonnen in second. Verstappen, though, is reporting a big vibration...
Lap 30/53: Force India have endured a miserable weekend now Perez is forced into a rare retirement.
Latest standings
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Kimi Raikkonen — Ferrari
3) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
4) Sebastian Vettel — Ferrari
5) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
Lap 29/53: Ricciardo pitted and came out behind Vettel, who is now between the two Red Bulls in fourth.
Perez has called it off for the day in the pits.
Lap 28/53: Sainz locked up going into the pit lane and almost went into Ericsson on the way out. Not much going on there, although Sainz may have been going too quickly into the pit lane. We shall see...
Lap 27/53: Hamilton has set a new fastest lap. He is looking untroubled.
Sirotkin, in last, now has a five-second penalty for driving unnecessarily slow. Not a great day for him.
Lap 26/53: Verstappen has gone into the pits to have a tyre change. Onto the soft. He is looking to get the power down. A great stop sees the Red Bull driver head out ahead of Vettel.
Lap 25/53: Leclerc says he is having problems with his tyres. Not sure he will be able to have much of an impact here. Dirt in the tyres or has he run over something?
Lap 24/53: It currently looks bright and sunny on the track, so rain would be a dramatic change. Hamilton going very smoothly.
Leclerc has lost out to Hulkenberg, with the Sauber heading of the track.
A lot going on there...
LAP CHARTS (LAP 20/53)
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 24, 2018
Just look at those red and silver lines 📈#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/iIEL41hKvv
Lap 23/53: Hamilton has a five-second lead now. Maybe he is using the best of the weather to really push his car and get an advantage, in full knowledge of the waterlogging of the track yesterday.
Lap 22/53: “Possible rain in 20 minutes” comes over Alonso’s radio. Not good news for ultrasoft tyres, potentially.
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
3) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
4) Kimi Raikkonen — Ferrari
5) Sebastian Vettel — Ferrari
6) Carlos Sainz — Renault
Lap 21/53: Grosjean not too happen with Bottas but there was nothing to see when the Mercedes overtook him. Not worth moaning about.
Lap 20/53: Vettel spent a bit of time behind Sainz but the German is not to be stopped by a Renault today, that is for sure. There was plenty of planning put into when he should overtake, which he did with ease to go fifth.
Lap 19/53: Bottas has a bit of floor damage, which is costing him plenty of downforce and his potential to move up the field.
There’s rain in the vicinity but it might just miss the circuit...only time will tell.
Lap 18/53: Vettel cannot be stopped speeding his way up into the top six but Hamilton has then beaten his own fastest lap. Could be about to get quite lively here.
Lap 17/53: Leclerc was showing Vettel what he can offer in defence. Unfortunately for the Sauber, he could not do much to stop the championship leader going into seventh.
Hamilton is pushing at the front, possibly in fear of Vettel, and has just completed the fastest lap of the race.
Lap 16/53: Sergey Sirotkin is the latest man to be investigated for going too slow behind the safety car. I am not even sure I would be able to do that.
Latest...
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
3) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
4) Kimi Raikkonen — Ferrari
5) Carlos Sainz — Renault
Updated
Lap 15/53: Bottas speeds beyond Perez, as overtaking is the order of the day here and there is plenty of space to do it in.
Lap 14/53: Another place for Vettel who moves to eighth. It really looks very easy for the man in the Ferrari. Bottas, however, isn’t getting too many overtakes done.
Lap 13/53: At the front, Hamilton is three seconds ahead of Verstappen. The Red Bulls are keeping a decent pace with him.
Vettel is now into ninth. He’s pushing it, probably with that penalty on his mind.
Lap 12/53: Grosjean is under investigation for leaving the track on the first lap to gain an advantage. I am pretty sure most cars left the track during the melee.
Lap 11/53: Some black clouds are ominously coming overhead, which is a worry for the racing.
Vettel goes past Hulkenberg on the inside to move into a points position.
Lap 10/53: So...here is the top four after all that has taken place.
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
3) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
4) Kimi Raikkonen — Ferrari
Lap 9/53: Red Bull taking second and third currently.
Vettel given a five-second penalty for his collision with Bottas on the first turn. Not ideal for him.
Lap 8/53: Vettel really needs to move up the placings quickly to ensure he can challenge at the front.
Plenty of overtaking happening here, including Ricciardo going into third.
Lap 7/53: Grosjean, Leclerc, Perez and Hulkenberg are all very close together. Could be a while before any proper racing happens in the middle.
Vettel is trying to work himself up from 13th place, which should result in some aggressive driving.
Sainz is up in third still, which he is not used.
Lap 6/53: Now we are racing once again! Hopefully we can avoid more delays.
Alonso has gone off the track and a yellow flag was out. Looks like he made was done by Vettel there on the outside.
Updated
Lap 5/53: Lots of debris needed to be cleared from the track, which has taken quite a while and there is still a bit to get rid of.
And the safety car is done!
Some sense of the madness...
GAINS AND LOSSES (LAP 3/53)
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 24, 2018
Hamilton avoids the melee at the first corner
Almost everyone else profits#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/VIVznP0hRt
Lap 4/53: Safety car is still going...
Gasly and Ocon’s coming together is being investigated, as is Bottas and Vettel’s contact.
Lap 3/53: Vettel was in and out for a new nose. Bottas has just about made it into the pit with his punctured tyre. Tricky start for all. Vettel and Bottas made contact on the first corner.
Lap 2/53: Vettel is sparking away, too! He has a problem with nose damage.
Another Frenchman in gGasly is out. Not a great home race for him and Ocon.
Updated
Lap 1/53: A lot happening on the first corner there. Some debris flying, Bottas being turned around, Vettel losing places and Ocon losing a wheel. Not a good day for the Frenchman.
And the safety car is out!
And we're off!
Here were go for 53 laps of fun in France!
Updated
The Engines are being revved now. We’re about to go...
According to the boffins, there is a 60 per cent chance of rain...let’s hope it does not come to that.
Alonso is looking in good spirits even though his car is unlikely to let him challenge today...
‘Highway to Hell’ is now the song of choice for the DJ at the track.
Niki Lauda does not want rain. There are a few clouds in the sky but they are looking pretty bright and white.
There is a man arriving on some sort of hoverboard. This is far too modern.
This is just like Back to the Future.
Race conditions...
Race conditions = 👌#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/HkwNtRhOuJ
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 24, 2018
Dry ice: good for molecular gastronomy and keeping car engines cool pre-race. What a substance.
The Marseillaise is blasting out around Paul Ricard as their equivalent of the Red Arrows head over the track and French flags are ferociously shaken in the stands.
England were dominant from the first to the last in the World Cup, something Hamilton will be looking to emulate today. There is one point between him and Vettel, so it is very tight at the top and they will be the favourites once again today.
A bit more on France being a good place for F1...
Cheers for the selfie, Lewis...
Ocon discussing how he always dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 driver, which is nice. His dad threatened him with working in McDonald’s if he failed to make it in the sport.
Charles Leclerc seems to be pretty pleased with where he is starting. The man from Monaco fancies a bit of rain to add a touch of spice to the race. He is the nearest they have a home driver, so can expect a lot of support from the crowds.
Well, apart from Gasly and Ocon.
Updated
Lewis Hamilton need not worry about England winning...
Here are the first six on the grid today...
1) Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes
2) Valtteri Bottas — Mercedes
3) Sebastian Vettel — Ferrari
4) Max Verstappen — Red Bull
5) Daniel Ricciardo — Red Bull
6) Kimi Raikkonen — Ferrari
And here is a reminder of what happened during qualifying...
Looks like a nice day at the circuit, so hopefully we will avoid the rain that was rumoured yesterday.
A feel good story from France as barriers are being broken down in Saudi society with a little help from Formula One
McLaren have endured a terrible time of it this weekend already, as their car does not look like it can compete at all at this level. Fernando Alonso has just won Le Mans, so might be a bit tired but there’s still plenty of positivity in their garage, with some rather optimistic claims they could get some points in France.
Updated
Giles Richards has written about why it’s great fun to be back in France...
Preamble
Lewis Hamilton is on pole as he looks to overtake Sebastian Vettel in the championship. Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas is in second and Vettel settles for third at the start. The real qualifying success was Charles Leclerc who made it to eighth in a Sauber, which is a minor miracle.
But less about the short-term, it really is exciting to be back in France at Paul Ricard. We’ve been away from France for 10 years and they’ve really made a lot of effort to bring F1 back to the country. Patriotism is on show, with the run-off areas painted red and blue, with the colour representing how abrasive an area a driver might be in in order to stop them hitting the wall.
The engine upgrade for Mercedes has helped their drivers, providing their first one-two since the Spanish Grand Prix, which is not to be sniffed at.
Rain interrupted proceedings yesterday and it might do again today, according to the weather forecast, which would make it a completely different race.
Anyway, it’s great to be in France and it really should be a cracker.
Updated
