Vettel chance in the Hamilton victory | Sports | '
A few days after his wedding, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel missed the champagne party on Sunday in Le Castellet on the podium. The four-time world champion crossed the finish line in fifth place at the eighth race of the season and falls back in the overall standings. Once again Mercedes drove a double victory, the sixth already in the eighth race of the season.
"I think our speed is better in the race, I'll go for attack," Vettel said after his disappointing seventh place in qualifying. Team Principal Mattia Binotto explained before the start: "Sebastian must come as quickly as possible in front of the two McLaren, not to demand the tires too much."
This is exactly what the German did not do. Only in the fifth round did Vettel overtake the young British talent Lando Norris and took sixth place. Two laps later he passed the Spaniard Carlos Sainz. However, the top five was already a long way ahead at this time.
No success at the green table
Above all, the five-time world champion Hamilton turned lonely as leader of his rounds. In the meantime, the pole-setter complained that his seat was damaged. Nevertheless, the Englishman drove at the Circuit Paul Ricard in his second France victory after the comeback of the race in the previous year, a top round after another.
Not to stop: Lewis Hamilton on his fifth win of the season
On Friday, Ferrari's effort had been dashed to win the victory over Canada's previous race at the Green Table. "That's disappointing," Vettel had said after the final confirmation of the five-second penalty against him. Also Scuderia team boss Mattia Binotto was "disappointed with Ferrari, his fans and the sport."
Tire change in the penultimate round
The Montreal racing commissioners had concluded at a specially convened meeting in Le Castellet that the new evidence brought by Scuderia "did not bring any significant and relevant new elements" to light. The race-deciding scene between Vettel and Hamilton is therefore not re-evaluated.
But the Scuderia must probably re-evaluate their season goals. After the eighth race of the season, Ferrari and his top rider Vettel are likely to pull off the title fight early on. Although Vettel after a tire change in the penultimate round still drove an extra point for the fastest race lap, the gap to Hamilton in the overall standings is already 76 points.
His wedding during the week did not give Vettel any additional momentum. But it certainly helps him to deal better with him unsatisfactory fifth place.
sw / to (with dpa, sid)
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