French Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins from Lewis Hamilton after Charles Leclerc crashes out
Charles Leclerc gifted Max Verstappen victory and a huge advantage in the World Championship by crashing out of the lead of the French Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver, in need of a good result to keep his title hopes alive, lost control at the Beausset right-hander two laps after the Red Bull had made its first pit stop.
Verstappen's seventh win in 12 races gives him a 63-point lead with 10 races to go.
Lewis Hamilton, on his 300th Formula 1 start, took a strong second, and his Mercedes team-mate George Russell third and the final podium place after a frantic and bad-tempered fight with Red Bull's Sergio Perez in the closing laps.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was fifth, questioning his team's decision to make a second pit stop just after he had taken third place from Perez with 11 laps to go.
"The car was quick today - of course, unlucky for Charles, I hope he is OK - but I just did my race and looked after the tyres," said Verstappen.
"We still have a bit of work to do, over a single lap especially, so we just have to keep on working."
BBC