Having to start from the back of the French F1 Grand Prix grid has brought little reward for Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley. It may have kept him out of several collisions by other drivers on the opening lap but other than that Hartley had a low key race.
“It was a clean and good race, but starting last it was hard to make much headway,” commented Hartley. “I had a good battle with Marcus (Ericsson) early on, but he got me back during the pit stops. I kept out of trouble on the first lap – a couple of cars cut the chicane and I didn’t make up much ground, but at least I was able to keep the car safe.
“I wish we could have made some more progress but ultimately we didn’t have the pace today. I moved forward and got by the two Williams, but I don’t think there was much more we could do in the race, it’s tricky when you start at the back.”
For team mate Pierre Gasly it was a disappointing home Grand Prix, crashing out of the opening lap.
“I’m very disappointed, it was tough to finish the race after just three corners,” said Gasly. “In Turn 3 I went on the inside and I thought Esteban had seen me, when I saw he closed the door I couldn’t avoid the collision.
“It’s a shame to have this incident – especially at the French GP with two French drivers. It’s very difficult to take, I really wanted to do well this weekend and it’s definitely not wanted from my home race.”
“This was a complicated weekend and it was extremely disappointing for us and also for all the French fans, that Pierre’s race was over just a few moments after the start,” said Toyoharu Tanabe (Honda F1 Technical Director). “Brendon, who started from the back of the grid because of the penalties incurred, moved up the order as others fell out and he also passed a few cars.
“A race to forget, but at least we can try and do better, starting this coming Friday in Austria.”
Race results
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 53 1h30m11.385s
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Renault 53 7.090s
3 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 53 25.888s
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 53 34.736s
5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 53 1m01.935s
6 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 53 1m19.364s
7 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 53 1m20.632s
8 Carlos Sainz Renault 53 1m27.184s
9 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 53 1m31.989s
10 Charles Leclerc Sauber/Ferrari 53 1m33.873s
11 Romain Grosjean Haas/Ferrari 52 1 Lap
12 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren/Renault 52 1 Lap
13 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 52 1 Lap
14 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso/Honda 52 1 Lap
15 Sergey Sirotkin Williams/Mercedes 52 1 Lap
16 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Renault 50 Suspension
17 Lance Stroll Williams/Mercedes 48 Tyre
– Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 27 Power Unit
– Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso/Honda 0 Collision
– Esteban Ocon Force India/Mercedes 0 Collision
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