France – Race: Hamilton ahead of Bottas, Mercedes one-two and Anglo-German supremacy!
Lewis Hamilton emerges victorious from a French Grand Prix without major incidents, after perfect management. In second place, his teammate Valtteri Bottas couldn't keep up with the Englishman. Further back, Charles Leclerc also managed his tires well, settling for the third step of the podium.
Sun and strong heat are on the agenda for this French Grand Prix. The stands are full, the tricolor flags are numerous, and the atmosphere is electric! The popular success is once again present, despite the stands being less crowded than in 2018, as the public has understandably become wary of the traffic problems when leaving the Paul Ricard circuit.
A beautiful, scorching day for an F1 race ☀️
Tyre management is surely going to be more crucial than ever 👨🔧#F1 #FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/GlSM7Ye9fi
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
The latest news from the paddock tells us that Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari underwent a change of a defective auxiliary oil pump. Under the closed regime, it should be noted that this intervention remains possible due to its nature and is therefore carried out under the control of the FIA. No penalty for the German. This incident is not deemed related to his poor qualification.
The start is launched. Verstappen quickly draws level with Leclerc, but as they reach the corner, the Dutchman
Doesn’t force things and maintains his fourth position, while Sainz comes to threaten him at the same time, without consequence. Ahead, Lewis Hamilton closed the door on Bottas, thus maintaining his first position.
LAP 1/53
A battle already developing between Verstappen (P4) and Sainz (P5) 👀#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/T2MAIthjTq
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
The order of qualification is maintained for the moment at the level of the top four. Sainz was able to overtake his teammate.
No incidents were reported in this first round.
In the second lap, a small error in trajectory by Lewis Hamilton, without consequence. Further ahead, Verstappen’s Red Bull pulls away from Sainz’s McLaren. Leclerc’s Ferrari is keeping pace with the Mercedes for the moment.
Vettel finds himself 6th, gaining a place over Norris after a strong braking maneuver, a textbook example.
LAP 5/53
Sebastian Vettel takes Lando Norris to move up into P6
He now sets off in search of Carlos Sainz in P5#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/EhBzxsv2eO
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
In the 7th lap, the top four are all two seconds apart while Sainz’s McLaren continues to pull away and is now more than 7 seconds ahead.
It is at this moment that Giovinazzi chooses to stop. Launched like Gasly on soft tires, the Italian was in agony and puts on the soft tires to try to reach the finish.
In the middle of the pack, the Renaults are in 9th and 11th positions, with Räikkönen separating them. Pierre Gasly is 8th and will likely have to stop soon just like Giovinazzi, as his performances are not optimal and he is gradually being caught by Ricciardo.
Following an avoidance maneuver on the first lap by cutting a corner, Sergio Perez receives a 5-second penalty, the Mexican having been judged to have gained time during this deviation.
In front, Leclerc’s Ferrari can no longer keep up with the pace of the Mercedes, which are disappearing from the Monegasque’s field of vision. The team tells him that the current goal is to maintain a gap of more than two seconds with Verstappen.
Vettel, on his side, is comfortable and claims the fastest lap, continuing to close in on Verstappen. He is now only six seconds behind the Red Bull driver. The other driver from the Austrian firm, Pierre Gasly, is starting to struggle with his tires despite all his efforts in smooth driving, lapping two seconds slower than his teammate.
Behind, a beautiful maneuver by Albon on Kevin Magnussen as he overtakes him authoritatively. The Dane’s Haas seems to be struggling, just like that of his teammate. Hamilton complains over the radio about an element moving around near his seat.
On the 17th lap, Daniel Ricciardo stops to replace his medium tires with hard ones to finish the race. Bold strategy, as the stop is premature compared to Pirelli’s forecasts.
Pierre Gasly stops in turn and fits white tires. Announced before the Grand Prix with two stops, the Frenchman seems to have changed his plans. Successful strategy as the Red Bull driver comes out ahead of Ricciardo thanks to a superb pit stop. Renault’s undercut did not work.
Pit stops for both McLarens. No position swap, the drivers come out in 10th and 11th positions.
22nd lap, pit stop for Leclerc who comes out in 4th position, behind Vettel who continues his staggered race. Verstappen remains more than five seconds away.
Two laps later, Bottas stops and comes out behind Vettel, who extends his stint on his set of tires, while Lewis Hamilton manages his tires well and sets the fastest lap on track. His seat problems don’t seem to be holding him back. The team nevertheless decides to bring him into the pits to play it safe.
LAP 25/53
Race leader @LewisHamilton pits for a new set of tyres
And that’s a rapid changeover by the Mercedes crew 👀⏱️#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/6SWvZ3NzNV
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
On lap 25, Vettel finally stops and comes out in a logical 5th position, a little over four seconds behind Verstappen.
Ricciardo attacks Grosjean but despite the Frenchman’s resistance, the Australian equipped with fresh tires, passes as the Haas driver is forced to cut the corner.
Charles Leclerc, questioned about his ability to attack more, says he wishes to continue managing his tires without changing his plans.
LAP 30/53
FERRARI 📻: “Charles, can you push any faster than this? Question?”
LECLERC 📻: “I can, but it’s not good for the tyres. So no.”#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/spBkyKYw3x
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
Lewis Hamilton continues his performance by breaking the track record in the race, previously held by Valtteri Bottas since last year.
On the Renault side, Hülkenberg attacks, still on his starting tires and now in 6th position. Meanwhile, his teammate overtakes Kvyat with a nice braking move. The Russian then enters the pit lane.
35th lap and Hülkenberg finally stops after insisting a bit too long on worn tires and losing time. The German driver comes out in 11th place ahead of Pierre Gasly. Only Stroll remains on the track with his original tires, classified at this point in the race in 6th.
The McLarens continue their good weekend by maintaining the 7th and 8th places, despite a mixed first stint due to significant tire degradation. Norris is frustrated with staying behind his Spanish teammate and asks the team to act, believing he is faster. Sainz quickly corrects the situation and accelerates.
Hamilton complains about the behavior of his hard tires, while being the fastest in the race, more than twelve seconds ahead of Bottas.
LAP 38/53
Hamilton reports that he’s not as happy with his new tyres as he was with his old ones
But he’s extended his lead over Bottas to 12.5s#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/m8ciNFiOUt
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
The two Renaults are in the points at the 45th lap. Behind, in 11th position, Pierre Gasly is clearly suffering from the strategy implemented at the start with soft tires.
Big internal battle between the ToroRosso drivers, side by side in the Signes corners and Albon overtakes Kvyat in a spectacular manner, thus taking the 14th position to his teammate’s advantage.
LAP 46/53
Big fight between the two Toro Rossos as Albon tries to hold off Kvyat in the closing laps 👀#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/wD7xXOW4bX
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
On the 47th lap, the Haas team informs Romain Grosjean of the impending retirement, likely with the prospect of a “free” part change. Norris, struggling with steering issues on his McLaren, sees Ricciardo dangerously closing in on his 7th position.
His teammate Hülkenberg, on his part, threatens Räikkönen’s Sauber, currently in 9th place.
With three laps to go, a cone is detected in the middle of the track, hit by Albon.
Despite the quick intervention of a commissioner, the virtual safety car is deployed but quickly withdrawn.
LAP 51/53
Not all heroes wear capes 🦸♂️#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/woyVylIE83
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
With two laps to go, Ricciardo is on Norris’s heels, struggling with his steering. Vettel pits to attempt the fastest lap and try to obtain the associated point.
Lando Norris creates a small bottleneck, with the drivers behind him unable to overtake.
Last lap and Charles Leclerc is closing in strongly on Bottas, who is struggling with tire issues. In the final corner, the Monegasque attempts an attack but finishes nine-tenths behind Bottas at the line.
At the end of the lap, Norris can no longer handle the pressure and makes a mistake. The three drivers ahead of him pass him while fighting among themselves on the straight. Ricciardo finishes 7th ahead of Räikkönen and Hülkenberg. The maneuver is under investigation, considering that Ricciardo might have gained an advantage by cutting the corner. Just barely, Sebastian Vettel clinches the point for the fastest lap, far from Lewis Hamilton, who repeats his victory at Paul Ricard in 2018. This year, the Briton extends his lead with this fourth win of the season!
Round 8 = DONE
A sixth win of 2019 for @LewisHamilton 🏆
And Sebastian Vettel takes the DHL Fastest Lap Award and bonus point#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/fydEHSzoKX
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 juin 2019
From our special correspondent in Le Castellet
