French Grand Prix qualifying results: Confirmed grid after penalties – Hamilton on pole

LEWIS HAMILTON will start the French Grand Prix from pole position after dominating qualifying at Paul Ricard.

French Grand Prix qualifying F1 classification

Lewis Hamilton secured his 86th career pole position at Paul Ricard (Image: GETTY)

The Brit was a class above the rest of the field as Sebastian Vettel suffered a nightmare in his Ferrari, eventually finishing seventh.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas will line up second while Charles Leclerc posted a time good enough for third.

Max Verstappen was fourth for Red Bull while McLaren stars Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz locked out the third row in a brilliant Saturday performance.

Vettel had to abort one of his flying runs after a small mistake and was made to pay as the track conditions changed, with the German unable to post a time fast enough to challenge the Mercedes.

The German marque have topped every session at Paul Ricard so far this weekend, with reigning champion Hamilton duly notching a 1:28.319 to secure pole ahead of Bottas.

Strong winds prevented any rivals from overtaking the Brit on the final runs, meaning Mercedes comfortably secured their 63rd front-row lock-out.

At the other end of the field, Romain Grosjean had a frustrating session and was knocked out in Q1 while grid penalties for George Russell and Daniil Kvyat will see them line up at the back of the grid.

Russell has a 15-place penalty for changing his control electronics and energy store while Kvyat will be punished with a 25-place drop after Toro Rosso tactically broke the seal on a new turbocharge and MGU-H, despite not intending to change the parts until later in the season.

French Grand Prix qualifying results Hamilton

Toro Rosso tactically took a grid penalty despite not intending to use new engine parts (Image: GETTY)

French Grand Prix qualifying results

20. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) – 1:31.564 *25-place penalty

19. George Russell (Williams) – 1:32.789 *15-place penalty

18. Robert Kubica (Williams) – 1.33.205

17. Lance Stroll (Racing Point) – 1:31.726

16. Romain Grosjean (Haas) – 1:31.626

French Grand Prix qualifying Paul Ricard

Paul Ricard is notable for the colourful run-off areas surrounding the track (Image: GETTY)

15. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) – 1:31.440

14. Sergio Perez (Racing Point) – 1:30.738

13. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) – 1:30.544

12. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) – 1:30.533

11. Alexander Albon (Toro Rosso) – 1:30.461


French Grand Prix qualifying results Hamilton

Hamilton is set to extend his lead at the top of the Drivers' Championship (Image: GETTY)

10. Antonio Giovanazzi (Alfa Romeo) – 1:33.420

9. Pierre Gasly (Red Bull) – 1:30.184

8. Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) – 1:29.918

7. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) – 1:29.799

6. Carlos Sainz (McLaren) – 1:29.522

5. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:29.418

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:29.409

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:29.015

2. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) – 1:28.605

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:28.319