WATCH: Verstappen runs wide at Turn 2 to allow Hamilton into the lead at French GP start

Pole-sitter Max Verstappen got away well off the grid at the start of the French Grand Prix, but he would not hold the lead past the first corner after he ran wide at Turn 2.

The Red Bull driver went over the run-off, through the escape road and past the bollards, as title rival and P2 starter Lewis Hamilton swept into the lead.

Verstappen managed to recover and get back on track to slot into P2 ahead of the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, as Hamilton pulled away out in front. Otherwise it was a fairly clean start to the race with no contact between any of the drivers in the opening corners, with the full field of 20 cars still in the race at the end of Lap 1.

Hit play on the video above to see the start, and tap here to follow all the latest action from the race in our live blog.