French Grand Prix 2018 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton dominated Formula 1's return to the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard after a ten-year absence, leading from pole position to claim a commanding victory. The Mercedes driver's performance marked the beginning of his mid-season surge that would ultimately decide the championship, as Hamilton began to unlock the full potential of the W09.

Starting from pole, Hamilton controlled the race from lights to flag in the scorching heat of southern France. Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull after an impressive drive, while Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium for Ferrari. Valtteri Bottas set the fastest lap for Mercedes. The race was marred by several incidents, including a first-lap collision between Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas that damaged Vettel's Ferrari and forced him to pit early. The German could only recover to fifth place, allowing Hamilton to close the championship gap.

Vettel's error - aggressively moving across on Bottas at the start and making contact - would prove to be another in a series of costly mistakes that undermined Ferrari's title challenge. The result cut Vettel's championship lead to just one point and signaled a shift in momentum toward Mercedes and Hamilton. Paul Ricard's return to the calendar after its decade-long hiatus was met with mixed reviews, with many drivers criticizing the lack of overtaking opportunities on the modern layout.