Sebastian Vettel admits his small mistake came at a big cost for team
Formula 1 | July 23, 2018 11:52 ISTLeading both the drivers' and constructors' championships before the race, Vettel and Ferrari are now behind in both.
Leading both the drivers' and constructors' championships before the race, Vettel and Ferrari are now behind in both.
The German's mishap opened the door wide open for Hamilton, who is 17 points clear of Vettel after trailing by eight beforehand.
Already trailing Vettel by eight points in the title race, Hamilton starts Sunday's race from 14th place after a hydraulic failure.
With his previous contract set to expire at the end of this year, Lewis Hamilton penned a new agreement until 2020 with Mercedes.
Four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton penned a new deal with Mercedes until 2020, when the current set of F1 regulations end.
Hamilton managed to fight his way back to finish second after a Ferrari-Mercedes duel developed with Valtteri Bottas leading until Vettel hit the front again with five laps to go.
Vettel, who leads Hamilton by one point going into the 10th of 21 races, was faster than Hamilton until the British driver went again to finish 0.044 seconds ahead.
Hamilton, who is going for a fifth straight victory and a record sixth overall in his home Formula One race, clocked the best lap time at 0.367 seconds faster than Bottas.
Lewis Hamilton is bidding to win the British Grand Prix on Sunday for what would be an outright record sixth time at his home race.
Bottas edged Hamilton by 0.019 seconds for his first pole position of the season as Mercedes locked up the front row of the grid for the third time this year.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, who trails Hamilton by 14 points going into Sunday's ninth of 21 races, had a fastest lap that was 0.236 behind Hamilton's.
Vettel, who leads by just one point going into the 10th of 21 F1 races this season, clocked the best lap time by 0.187 seconds faster than Hamilton and 0.357 quicker than Bottas.
Hamilton trails Vettel by one point at the top of the standings heading into Sunday's race at the Paul Ricard Circuit.
The last time an F1 race was held here at Le Castellet was in 1990 when Alain Prost won for Ferrari.
Mercedes were unable to deliver a reliable engine upgrade in time for the Canadian GP, helping Ferrari return to the top of the podium for the first time since 2004.
Hamilton insisted that Ricciardo has been performing more consistently and breaking fewer cars in comparison to his team-mate Max Verstappen.
Ricciardo was also fastest in all three practice sessions and the Australian driver will be confident of securing his second win after victory last month in China.
Australian driver Ricciardo headed teammate Max Verstappen to a Red Bull one-two in both practice sessions at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Valtteri Bottas is urging Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to sign a new contract, even though his own future is uncertain with the team.
Defending champion Lewis Hamilton has won the last two races with Mercedes this season to move 17 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel in their title battle despite trailing by the same amount after the Ferrari driver won the first two of the season.
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