Lewis Hamilton fastest in first French GP practice

Formula One Champion Lewis Hamilton set the pace in a Mercedes one-two in first free practice for the French Grand Prix on Friday with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc the best of the rest. Hamilton lapped the Le Castellet circuit in one minute 32.738 seconds. Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas was second, a mere 0.069 slower, with Leclerc 0.373 off Hamilton’s time. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was more than a second slower than the Briton. Five-times world champion Hamilton leads Bottas by 29 points in the standings.

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