French GP: Race again a struggle for Williams Martini

After another difficult qualifying the Williams Martini team would see their drivers start the fifty three lap 2018 French Grand Prix from 18th and 19th with Sergey Sirotkin ahead of team-mate Lance Stroll. At the front of the grid it would be Hamilton leading from Bottas with Vettel third. The Red Bull cars of Verstappen and Ricciardo were fourth and fifth. They were followed by Raikkonen, Sainz, Leclerc, Magnussen, and Grosjean. Of the top ten all except the Mercedes and Red Bull teams were on the ultrasoft tyres. These two team were on the supersoft tyre for the start. Both Williams drivers would start on new ultrasoft tyres looking to make up places quickly. Other tyre selections were soft tyres for Hulkenberg and Perez. Supersoft tyres for Gasly, Ericsson, and both McLarens.

The cars would complete the parade lap and would form up and the lights would go out and it would be Hamilton leading but Bottas would be turned around at the first corner. Cars were going everywhere while Ocon had lost one of his wheel. This would see the Safety Car deployed. Ocon's car had it right rear wheel off while Bottas had suffered a puncture and was slowly coming back to the pits. Vettel had damaged his nose seeing sparks flying as he also return to the pits. Both Williams would pit changing from the ultrasoft tyre to the soft. They were in 14th and 15th. Vettel had hit the rear of Bottas causing the puncture. Ocon had made contact with Gasly. At the start Lance had made one of his great starts moving up to 12th while Sergey was 15th. Both Gasly and Ocon were out of the race.

The incident between Vettel and Bottas was now under investigation. Bottas would return running last on the soft tyre. Vettel was one place ahead also on the soft tyre. At the front it was now Hamilton, Verstappen, Sainz, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Leclerc, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Perez and Hulkenberg in tenth. The Safety Car would come in on lap seven after the debris had been cleared away. Both Vettel and Bottas were able to pass Sergey seeing him drop to 17th. Vettel would make contact with Alonso seeing the McLaren spin. Vettel would pass Lance seeing him drop to 15th. The Williams drivers were now running 16th and 17th as Vettel continued his run to the front. Vettel was now in 11th and Bottas 13th. A five second penalty would be given to Vettel.

Ricciardo had passed Sainz for third and Raikkonen would pass Sainz as well moving up to fourth. Sainz was now fifth followed by Magnussen, Leclerc, and Grosjean eighth. Vettel would pass Hulkenberg for 10th while Alonso would get past Sergey to see the Williams 18th. Vettel would continue forward passing Perez for ninth. This would become eight as he past Grosjean. Bottas was not as quick in his move forward only 11th. Hulkenberg had passed Grosjean for ninth while at the front Hamilton was 4.6 seconds ahead of Verstappen and Ricciardo. Vettel was now in sixth having passed Magnussen. Alonso would pass Lance with the Williams drivers now 17th and 18th. Vettel was now up to fifth while on lap twenty seven Verstappen would pit changing to the soft tyre. He would come back out in fourth. Sainz had also pitted taking on soft tyres and coming back out in 14th.

Ricciardo would pit on lap thirty taking on soft tyres and returning in fifth behind Vettel. Perez would retire with an engine issue on lap thirty one. Hamilton was now leading from Raikkonen and Verstappen. Hamilton would pit on lap thirty four taking on soft tyres and coming back out in second. Raikkonen was now leading but on very used ultrasoft tyres. The Williams pair were now 16th and 17th. Ricciardo would pass Vettel moving into fourth. This would become third as Raikkonen pitted from the lead. He would take on supersoft tyres returning in fifth. With pit stops the Williams pair were now in 14th and 15th. Both Bottas and Vettel would pit with Vettel now in 5th on new ultrasoft tyres. Bottas was in eighth.

The Williams drivers were running close together with forty three laps completed. But for Williams the closing stages of the race would see Lance suffer a tyre failure after having badly flat spotted it previously. Prior to this both Williams had been passed by Hartley and Ericsson. With Lance's incident the Virtual Safety Car would be deployed but it would be cleared and the race would finish with Hamilton winning from Verstappen and Raikkonen. For Williams Sergey would finish in 15th.