French GP: Hamilton claims easy win ahead of Bottas at Paul Ricard

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Lewis Hamilton was unchallenged as he eased to victory at the French Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Briton led from lights out to the chequered flag, eventually crossing the line 18 seconds clear of teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Charles Leclerc would almost take advantage of a late Virtual Safety Car as he closed to within a second of the Finn on the final lap.

But despite a lunge into the final corner, the Monegasque couldn't quite get close enough as he settled for third in the Ferrari.

Sebastian Vettel had work to do from seventh on the grid but would soon overhaul the two McLaren's and switched focus on catching Max Verstappen for fourth.

The German went long in his first stint to try and attack the Red Bull, but it was to no avail as the Dutchman was comfortably fast enough to keep fourth.

Vettel instead chose to pit for soft tyres and posted the fastest lap on the final lap to take the additional point plus fifth place.

Carlos Sainz produced a solid drive to secure sixth for McLaren, leading the midfield pack, but there were fireworks behind on the final lap all thanks to the late VSC caused by a stray bollard

Daniel Ricciardo had recovered from slipping down to 10th at the start and was running eighth as he set about closing Lando Norris in the closing laps.

Hydraulics problems for the Briton wouldn't help his cause but it appeared laps would run before the Australian could challenge.

That all changed under the VSC as the Renault caught the McLaren, with Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Hulkenberg making it a four-way duel for seventh.

Ricciardo tried a pass into Turn 8 but would run wide allowing Norris back alongside, he would be pushed off the track with Raikkonen taking advantage to pass both cars.

The Australian then fought back to pass the Alfa Romeo into Turn 10 and cross the line seventh, but he does face an investigation into the scuffle at the chicane.

Raikkonen would finish eighth with Hulkenberg ninth while Norris dropped to 10th as his race unravelled, all those positions are subject to change.

Pierre Gasly endured another difficult race as he fell to 11th in the second Red Bull, leading the two Racing Points as Sergio Perez led Lance Stroll.

Daniil Kvyat passed Alex Albon in the final laps to be the lead Toro Rosso in 14th, while Antonio Giovinazzi's race was ruined by starting on the soft tyre as he dropped to 16th.

Haas' misery continued with Kevin Magnussen 17th as teammate Romain Grosjean was the only retirement at his home race.

Finally, the two Williams brought up the field with Robert Kubica finally beating George Russell after the pair came close to contact through the flat-out Turn 10 in the opening laps.

Back at the front where a fourth straight win and sixth of the year for Hamilton gives the Briton a 36-point lead in the Drivers' standings over Bottas.

And now F1 is set for the first back-to-back of 2019 as the grid heads directly to Spielberg for the Austrian Grand Prix in a week's time.

Full result from Sunday at Paul Ricard can be seen below:

 

         

 

 

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