F1: Hamilton secures pole position at the first French GP held after a decade

Sebastian Vettel collides with Bottas at Turn 1 of the opening lap

The French GP was ceased in 2008 due to critical financial circumstances. This was Formula 1 ’s first French GP after a whole decade. The race concluded with Hamilton racing ahead to a win clearing Red Bull’s Verstappen. Hamilton gained a 14 point lead over Vettel who secured fifth position. Valtteri Bottas finished in 7^th position following a mishap with Vettel. Into the first corner, Vettel tried to back out when he was alongside Bottas, but locked his front-left wheel and had a small collision that spun Bottas around. As a result, Bottas had suffered a punctured rear tyre and Vettel had a broken front wing.

The opening lap was filled with drama as Pierre Gasly lost control of his Toro Rosso and collided into Esteban Ocon’s Force India. Both the drivers were out on the opening lap of their home GP. After the safety car parted the track, and the race resumed,  Hamilton took an immediate lead with Verstappen right on his tail in second place. Sainz at third place, did not give up his position that easily to Daniel Ricciardo.

Raikkonen used his tyre advantage to take on Ricciardo with almost seven laps remaining. His overtake attempts on Turn 1 and Turn 3 were in vain. Raikkonen finally drafted and overtook the Red Bull into Turn 8 chicane to grab the podium finish. Both Bottas and Magnussen passed Sainz in the ending stages as his car suffered a sudden loss of power. Sainz managed to reel himself into eighth place, ahead of teammate Hulkenberg.

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