MAX VERSTAPPEN has won the French Grand Prix after a thrilling overtake on Lewis Hamilton on the penultimate lap.
Mercedes and Red Bull took different approaches to their pit stop, but the Brit’s wearying tyres let him down in the end as his Dutch rival overtook following a brilliant surge.
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SWITZERLAND VS TURKEY: BOTH NEED WIN
Bottom side Switzerland, with one point, and point-less Turkey each need victory in their 5pm game to have any chance of going through.
Even if the Swiss win, they would only finish in the top two if Wale slose to Italy with a swing of five on goal difference.
Four points could be enough as four third-placed teams going through.
ITALY VS WALES TEAM NEWS
Rob Page makes three changes for his Dragons for the 5pm Group A finale.
Neco Williams, Chris Gunter and Ethan Ampadu replace Ben Davies, Chris Mepham and Kiefer Moore
Neco Williams, Chris Gunter and Ethan Ampadu come in.
WALES: Ward, Roberts, Williams, Rodon, Ampadu, Gunter, Allen, Morrell, Ramsey, Bale, James.
Italy also make a host of changes.
Ciro Immobile, Manuel Locatelli, Leonardo Spinazzola, and Lorenzo Insigne are all rested, while Giorgio Chiellini is left out altogether.
ITALY: Donnarumma, Toloi, Bonucci, Bastoni, Emerson, Verratti, Jorginho, Pessina, Chiesa, Belotti, Bernardeschi.
‘HE DID A GREAT JOB’
Lewis Hamilton praises rival Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver made up three seconds inside the final five laps to beat him.
He said: “Congratulations to Max, he did a great job.
“I am happy with the result, unfortunately I lost the position but it was still a great race.
“We have got to dig deep and find some pace.”
THREE IN A ROW
Red Bull win for the third race in a row, and both drivers are on the podium!
HAVE YOUR SAY
What a race! Another step closer to the F1 Drivers’ Championship for Verstappen, but there’s still a way to go yet…
MAX-ED OUT
With five laps to go, Max Verstappen made up three seconds to beat Lewis Hamilton at the French Grand Prix!
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Credit: GETTY IMAGES Credit: GETTY IMAGES VERSTAPPEN WINS THE FRENCH GRAND PRIX
The two-stop strategy worked wonders. The Dutchman crosses the line in P1 and gets the bonus point for setting the fastest lap.
Red Bull win three races in a row. Amazing race.
Hamilton is second. Perez in third and Bottas in fourth.
Norris in fifth. Ricciardo is sixth.
Phew!
VERSTAPPEN LEADS
What a thrilling finale to this race.
VERSTAPPEN DOES IT
Fantastic overtake on Hamilton. That was a thrilling pass. He knew exactly what he was doing.
VERSTAPPEN IN DRS DISTANCE
THIS. IS. GETTING. VERY. CLOSE.
3 LAPS TO GO
Verstappen is closing. He has to make up 1.3 seconds.
LAP 49
Perez passes Bottas and in to third place. Cracking stuff from the Mexican. Red Bull are running second and third.
FIVE LAPS TO GO
It is Hamilton v Verstappen. The gap is now under three seconds.
SOMEHOW HAMILTON IS KEEPING THAT GAP OVER VERSTAPPEN
The Brit has a five second advantage, despite being on older, harder tyres. Hamilton is eeking out the performance of this old hard tyres.
BOTTAS IS FURIOUS
He told his team he would not get to the end of the race on the same tyre. He has been sacrificed to preserve Hamilton’s chances.
LAP 44 VERSTAPPEN GETS SECOND PLACE
A mistake from Bottas, as he goes deep into a corner and Verstappen takes full advantage and in to second.
10 LAPS TO GO
Verstappen closing in on Bottas. He needs to get the move done quickly.
VERSTAPPEN CAN SEE BOTTAS AND HAMILTON
Bottas has no tyres left. He is a sitting duck.
HAMILTON ASKING ABOUT VERSTAPPEN AND BOTTAS
He is told Verstappen’s pace is dropping. And that Bottas was holding firm.
Hamilton says his tyres “aren’t feeling great”.
LAP 38 HAMILTON STILL LEADS
Verstappen has 15 laps to reel in Hamilton’s lead. But there is Bottas in between them.
Verstappen is 8.5 seconds behind Hamilton.
HAVE YOUR SAY
LAP 35
Verstappen passes Perez in to third.
LAP 34
Norris moves in to seventh as he passes his teammate on track.
LAP 32 VERSTAPPEN PITS FOR FRESH TYRES
Red Bull rolled the dice. A 2.5 second stop. Red Bull playing the game here.
THIS IS SHAPING UP TO BE AN EPIC FIGHT
Both Verstappen and Hamilton are struggling, such is the relentlessness of their pace.
It could force them in to make two pitstops. Remember, Bottas, Verstappen and Hamilton was the order.
However, Perez went on much longer. He could be in contention for a win here.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
