Hamilton well off the pace in F1 practice

LEWIS Hamilton faces a tall order to crown his 300th Grand Prix with victory after he finished a distant fifth in practice.

The 37-year-old will bring up his triple ton at tomorrow’s French Grand Prix, becoming only the sixth Formula One driver to reach the landmark.

Hamilton will join Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button in F1’s exclusive club.

However, the seventime world champion, who has more wins, pole positions and podiums than any driver in the sport’s history, ended practice one second off the pace.

Carlos Sainz, likely to start Sunday’s race from the back following engine penalties, led team-mate Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari one-two.

Championship leader Max Verstappen was third.

“We have a lot of work to do and a lot of ground to cover,” said Hamilton.

“We are a bit further behind here than we anticipated this weekend.

“The car is not spectacular and we don’t know why.

“It is lacking everywhere, every corner.

“I was fifth so that is the region we will be fighting for.

“That doesn’t mean we cannot be on the podium but we are still not as quick as the guys at the front and we are a little bit further back than at the last race.

“Usually overnight we make a bit of a step forward and hopefully that is the case again.”

Hamilton’s Mercedes team harboured high hopes for the 12th round of the campaign in the scorching south of France heat.

A new floor, coupled with the smooth Circuit Paul Ricard asphalt, even led some within

Mercedes to believe Hamilton could end both his and the team’s, barren run by securing his 104th win.

Although practice times have to be treated with caution as teams trial different set-ups, Mercedes look set to play third-fiddle to both

Ferrari and Red Bull.

George Russell finished one place higher than Hamilton - but was still three quarters of a second back.