Hamilton destroys rivals for French GP win

Lewis Hamilton dominated the French Grand Prix from start to finish, rendering the rest of the field a total irrelevance in a race that will last barely beyond the chequered flag falling. After blasting away from pole position, Hamilton led every lap at Paul Ricard, extending his championship lead to 36 points.

Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc joined him on the podium after a race in which none truly saw their positions come under threat.

In truth, the entire race passed with very little incident, particularly at the front, where Hamilton, Bottas, Leclerc and Max Verstappen ended the race in the positions they started, strung out over almost 35 seconds.

Sebastian Vettel moved past the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz to take fifth, adding a bonus point for fastest lap late on, but it was another miserable weekend on the whole for Ferrari, whose deficit to Mercedes was once again in clear evidence.

Sainz finished sixth for McLaren, whose superb weekend was spoiled slightly right at the end of the race as Norris dropped down the order and finished 10th.

Daniel Ricciardo finished seventh in the upgraded Renault, while Kimi Raikkonen made an offset strategy work nicely to take eighth from 12th on the grid, Alfa Romeo's first points score in five races and Nico Hulkenberg came home ninth.

Pierre Gasly was a distance behind them in 11th, unable to capitalise on Norris' struggles, the Frenchman enduring another difficult weekend in his home race – one that will do his chances of remaining in the senior team long-term few favours.

Post-race, Ricciardo was punished for the late-race chaos, with two five-second penalties dropping him to 11th.

Related

French Grand Prix

F1 driver hails 'INCREDIBLE' race return opportunity as track options assessed

• July 24, 2023 15:57

French Grand Prix

French president gives HUGE update on historic F1 race

• July 13, 2023 14:57