Lewis Hamilton: ‘Long way to go,’ says Brit after regaining championship lead at French GP

Story highlights

Hamilton reflects on a "solid weekend"

Brit regained championship lead after victory in France

Leads Vettel by 14 points

CNN  — 

He regained his position at the top of the Formula One world championship, but Lewis Hamilton isn’t getting ahead of himself after victory at the French Grand Prix.

The four-time champion led from the start of the race, capitalizing on a collision between his teammate Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel that ultimately saw his Ferrari rival finish fifth and concede a 14-point lead at the top of the standings after eight races.

“I feel very grateful for a solid weekend,” said Hamilton after his victory at the Circuit Paul Ricard, the first French GP in 10 years.

“My guys [Mercedes], I’ve been with them for six years and they are just continuously pushing the boundaries and never giving up, so I’m just forever grateful for all their work, here at the track and back at the factory.

“But there’s a long way to go and we’ll keep approaching the rest of the season like we approached today.”

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 24: Alain Prost, Special Advisor to Renault Sport F1 walks in the Pitlane before practice for the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 24, 2018 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.  (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The French Grand Prix returns after 10 years
23:02 - Source: CNN

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Victory in the south of France was the third of the season for the Mercedes driver, who has won the championship in three of the last four years. It will come as a relief after a mixed start to the year and a disappointing race in Canada a fortnight ago.

Hamilton, who held off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen throughout the race, profited thanks to a five-second penalty handed out to Vettel and Bottas that saw the pair relegated to the back of the grid at the start of the race.

“I think my start was good, perhaps even too good,” said Vettel, who suffered his worst result since the Chinese GP in April.

“I found myself very close to Lewis in front and, when I tried to brake, I had absolutely no grip and there wasn’t much space where I could go.

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 27:  Race winner Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 27, 2018 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.  (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
The 2018 Monaco Grand Prix
22:45 - Source: CNN

“Fortunately, we could continue racing. We had a good car in the race, but the outcome was not what we wanted. It was my fault, but now let’s move on and think about the next weekend.”

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The upcoming weeks see a busy period in the F1 calendar which could prove crucial in deciding the destination of the championship.

It’s set to be F1’s first ever triple header as the drivers compete in this weekend’s Austrian GP before heading to Silverstone for the British GP.