Hamilton remains defiant

Lewis Hamilton believes he can defy the odds and win this weekend’s French Grand Prix. That’s despite starting Sunday’s race with a 10-place grid penalty after his pitlane smash during the Canadian round.

The McLaren ace lost his championship lead – plus a possible race victory – after crashing into the back of title rival Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari at the end of the pitlane in Montreal. The penalty means that, even if Hamilton sets the fastest time in qualifying at Magny-Cours, he will start outside the top 10 for the first time in his F1 career. “The race is going to be tough and we’re on the back foot already,” he admitted. “But I still feel we can win in France. I have to have that belief.”

Raikkonen thinks Hamilton – who trails leader Robert Kubica by four points – fully merited the sanction. “He loses 10 places, and at least that is not going to make things easier for him,” said the Finn.