Tuscan Grand Prix – Race: after the chaos, victory for Hamilton

New Formula 1 Grand Prix in Italy was very eventful: barely recovered from our emotions at Monza last Sunday, the brand new Tuscan Grand Prix offered a race full of twists and turns this Sunday, on the hilly Mugello circuit. Serial crashes, eight retirements, three standing starts, and two red flags!

Hamilton mastered Bottas, first career podium for Albon!

In the end, Lewis Hamilton clinched the victory, but the Briton worked hard for it!

The poleman first regained his position on the 10th lap, taking back the lead from Valtteri Bottas in the first corner. The Finn had taken the lead at the start, after a poor start from the Brit. Bottas tried to bluff with his strategy, but as often happens, he couldn’t do much against the six-time world champion. Hamilton secured the 90th victory of his career, with the fastest lap as a bonus. He is now one win away from Michael Schumacher’s record of total victories.

A week after being knocked off the podium, the Mercedes team secures its third double of the season, following the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August and the Styrian Grand Prix, held in Austria in July at the Red Bull Ring. Bottas struggled at the end of the race to fend off Alex Albon, the Red Bull driver, who clinched the first podium of his career with a 3rd place finish.

Albon snatches the podium from Ricciardo

The Thai driver took advantage of the chaos this Sunday. At the forefront were Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, and Alexander Albon. A decimated pack and three drivers in the battle. In the end, great joy for Albon and disappointment for Ricciardo.

Second for a few moments on the last restart, quickly passed by Bottas, Ricciardo executed a good strategy, but he was finally overtaken by the Red Bull on the 51st lap.

The Renault driver did the job in the first part of the race by passing Lance Stroll’s Racing Point thanks to pit stop strategy. Meanwhile, the Canadian did not make it to the finish, causing a red flag after a huge crash on the 44th lap, at the exit of the right-hand Arrabiata 1 curve.

LAP 44/59

Stroll crashes at Turn 9 ????#TuscanGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/dHFWM2KdTH

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 13, 2020

A puncture on the left rear tire appears to be the cause of the crash.

Before that, Stroll had been one of the beneficiaries of an initial red flag, waved after a huge crash on the 7th lap.

Impressive pile-up on a restart after the Safety Car, 5 cars retire all at once!

A pile-up occurred following a delayed restart by Bottas on lap 10. The leader at the time waited until the starting line to accelerate. With no visibility behind, part of the pack collided. Four cars were left out: Latifi, Magnussen, Sainz, and Giovinazzi, who accelerated into the back of the Williams and the Haas.

Impressive camera work from the Italian driver, who tore off both wheels of his Alfa Romeo. Strong footage also from Sainz’s camera on his McLaren.

SAINZ: “By the time I saw everything it was too late – it was a big crash. The main thing is that we are all ok”#TuscanGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/7MsXZh74Uo

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 13, 2020

A huge hit, after an already eventful first lap: the Mercedes Safety Car, repainted in red (for Ferrari’s 1,000th Grand Prix), came out following collisions in the 2nd corner.

Complaining of an engine problem on the grid, Max Verstappen suffered a power loss with his Honda unit in the first few meters of the Grand Prix.

Lacking speed, the Dutchman, who started 3rd, ended up in the gravel trap, pushed by Räikkönen’s Alfa Romeo. “Iceman” got tangled up with… Pierre Gasly! The hero of Monza ended in the same gravel trap as Verstappen. Trapped between Räikkönen and Grosjean’s Haas, the AlphaTauri driver got out of the car, his vehicle destroyed at the front.

Last week’s winner is also OUT! @PierreGASLY is another casualty of the contact in the midfield on the opening lap#TuscanGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/BEb4zNbWI4

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 13, 2020

With only 13 cars on the track after 10 laps, Scuderia Ferrari could have taken advantage for the 1,000th Grand Prix in its history. At one point 3rd at the beginning of the race, Charles Leclerc created an illusion for a few minutes.

Alas for the Tifosi, the Monegasque didn’t prolong the pleasure for very long. 8th place finish for Leclerc, just ahead of Räikkönen, who received a 5-second penalty for cutting the pit entry.

Sebastian Vettel’s second Ferrari took the last point in 10th place, just ahead of George Russell’s Williams. A week after Claire Williams’ departure, the young Briton has to settle for 11th place.

Last classified driver, the French survivor, Romain Grosjean in his Haas.

Only 12 drivers made it to the finish… astonishing!

The final standings of this Tuscan Grand Prix:

In the overall drivers’ standings, Lewis Hamilton leaves Tuscany with a 55-point lead over Valtteri Bottas, more than two victories ahead of his pursuer. The path to a 7th world title is clearer than ever for the Briton…