MERCEDES COMPLETE DOMINATION OF FRENCH GRAND PRIX

Lewis Hamilton claims French Grand Prix win – Photo: LAT

Lewis Hamilton has notched up his fourth straight victory with a commanding win of the French Grand Prix.

Neither of the Mercedes was ever truly challenged as they drove away from the field from the start of the race to take the top two spots on the podium.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was always a couple of seconds behind Valtteri Bottas, put in a gallant effort in the closing laps to attempt a bold move on the second-placed Mercedes at the final corner as the Finn cruised to the chequered flag. Unable to get past, Leclerc claimed the final podium position.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen challenged Leclerc early in the race, but his attention later turned to holding off the other Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel who had started the race in seventh but could only move forward to fifth.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz was the best of the rest – Photo: LAT

Behind the top five, the best of the rest title would go to McLaren’s Carlos Sainz in sixth. Continuing the good showing the British team throughout the weekend.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo crossed the line in seventh for Renault but received two post-race penalties that then relegated him to 11th.

Daniel Ricciardo was penalised to finish outside the top ten – Photo: LAT

In a hard fought battle with Lando Norris (McLaren) and Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) for seventh place, Ricciardo left the track at Turn 8 forcing Norris wide upon rejoining. In was deemed a separate incident, he then used the extension of the track to drive around the outside of Raikkonen on the run to Turn 9 to try to regain a place lost in the initial incident.

Stewards deemed both incidents warranted five-second penalties and also and two penalty points on Ricciardo’s superlicence.

Following the race Ricciardo tweeted:

No regrets. I tried. Would rather that than sit back without a heart.

— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) June 23, 2019

Hamilton’s win extended his lead in the championship standings to 36 points over Bottas. The only flaw in an otherwise perfect weekend for the reigning champion was that Vettel stole the extra championship point for the fastest lap on the final lap of the race.

Formula 1 – French Grand Prix – Result

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