Hamilton wins French GP to retake F1 lead

MERCEDES driver Lewis Hamilton won the French Grand Prix from pole position to retake the lead of the Formula One title race yesterday.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari crossed second and third to complete the podium at the Paul Ricard Circuit.

Defending champion Hamilton was never challenged after he reached the first corner a split second before Sebastian Vettel knocked into Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Vettel needed a new front wing for his Ferrari and had to work his way from the back of the pack to settle for a fifth-place finish behind Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo in Le Castellet.

Hamilton has 145 points after eight races. Vettel, who entered the race with a one-point lead, leaves trailing by 14.

It was Hamilton’s 65th career win. Only Michael Schumacher has more victories with 91.

While Hamilton thanked his team for its “great work” via the radio after crossing the line, Vettel lamented that he “had lost the race on the first lap”.

Starting from third behind both Mercedes, Vettel tried to squeeze past Bottas at the first corner but crunched his front wing into his rear left tire. Moments later there was more trouble when Pierre Gasly ran his Toro Rosso into the back of Esteban Ocon’s Force India, knocking them both out of the race and bringing out the safety car.

Vettel limped back to the pits to get a new nose piece while Bottas got a new tire for the one that was shredded by the nudge from the four-time former champion.

Bottas had to restart at the back of the pack with Vettel, who race officials gave a five-second penalty for causing the collision.

While Hamilton kept in front of the two Red Bulls, Vettel dropped Bottas behind and made quick work of the slower cars on the track to join the top five drivers by lap 21.

But Vettel couldn’t close the gap with the Red Bulls and was passed by Raikkonen on fresh tires.

Hamilton has pulled level with Vettel with three wins each this season

The return of the French GP after a decade-long absence since its last appearance at Magny-Cours is the first part of an unprecedented three races on consecutive weekends.