French Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins after devastated Charles Leclerc crashes out with 'unacceptable' mistake - CNN

An anguished scream on crew radio from Leclerc summarized yet another irritating day for Ferrari, after the Monegasque driver -- having led from pole -- slammed into the wall at high-pace on lap 18.

it's the third time this season that the 24-yr-ancient has didn't finish a race having led. Leclerc has transformed handiest two of his seven pole starts into wins, with the newest gifting Verstappen the chance to open up a sixty three-factor gap in the driver's championship.

And crimson Bull's reigning world champion -- after checking in together with his crew to ask if Leclerc was ok -- made no mistake to win his 27th career grand prix, and his second in a row on the Circuit Paul Ricard.

"The car became quick nowadays," Verstappen pointed out. "unfortunate for Charles, i hope he's good enough, but I just did my race and looked after the tyres.

"I always are trying to get essentially the most aspects possible. Some moves, you see they're on, and sometimes you simply ought to returned out and look ahead to the end of the race. that is what we did.

"There are plenty more races to come back the place you need to ranking features. In that point, today changed into a very good day."

a superb day for Mercedes noticed Lewis Hamilton and George Russell secure the group's first double podium of the season. After three straight third region finishes, Hamilton went one superior in his three hundredth race, while Russell overtook pink Bull's Sergio Perez with two laps to head to cap one more miraculous showing.

more distress for Leclerc

completing fourth from pole at his home race in Monaco after an errant pit stop approach, a double DNF at Azerbaijan, fifth in Canada, and frustrations with team orders in exquisite Britain; Leclerc's fortunes had seemed to be changing with a win in Austria past this month.

a first victory considering the fact that April had looked set to thrust him lower back into championship rivalry, and the Ferrari driver all started strongly in France, getting away neatly and starting to steadily construct a lead from Verstappen.

however disaster struck on lap 18 when Leclerc looked as if it would lose the rear of his automobile heading into the quick turn eleven, spinning into the wall. a safety vehicle soon adopted, but the 24-yr-historical emerged from the automobile unscatched.

Track marshals remove Leclerc's after he crashed into the track wall.

Track marshals remove Leclerc's after he crashed into the track wall.

tune marshals eliminate Leclerc's after he crashed into the track wall.

"No!" he screamed on group radio, at the beginning acting in charge a throttle situation that had well-nigh cost him the race in Austria, but he later admitted it was his error.

"i've been announcing I think i am performing on the optimum degree in my career but when I maintain doing these errors then it's pointless to operate at a extremely excessive level," Leclerc instructed Sky activities.

"If we lose the championship by using 32 points on the end of the season, i'll understand the place they're coming from and it's unacceptable. I need to get on right of these things.

"or not it's been a really intricate weekend for me. I struggled lots with the stability of the automobile ... when it be heat like this it's very complicated to be constant."

Mercedes joy

a very good recovery drive from teammate Carlos Sainz -- ranging from the back of the grid following a power unit penalty -- offered some comfort for Ferrari, yet even his fourth region finish become now not devoid of incident for the group.

The Spaniard had been discussing a possible pit stop over crew radio ahead of a stressful combat with Perez. Pushing to overtake the Mexican, Sainz became wheel to wheel along with his rival when his pit lane crew chimed in over the radio to suggest on the pit stop strategy.

"not no longer, now not now," Sainz shouted over group radio, later adding, "Come on guys."

Leclerc had led Verstappen from pole.

Leclerc had led Verstappen from pole.

Leclerc had led Verstappen from pole.

Perez become later worried in another interesting battle with Russell, falling in the back of the Englishman with just two laps ultimate after reacting slowly to the conclusion of a digital defense vehicle.

Russell jumped forward and held his lead to cap a first-class day for Mercedes, as he strikes to within some extent of Sainz in the driver's championship, with a cheerful -- albeit exhausted -- Hamilton 16 points in the back of.

"It changed into a tricky race as a result of my drinks bottle failed to work but what an excellent outcome considering we have been to this point off these guys all weekend," Hamilton spoke of.

"Reliability is one component my crew is wonderful at so big congratulations to the group returned at the factories and the crew here, devoid of them we would not get this podium. George did a terrific job as well."

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