Grand Prix d’Emilie Romagne: What to remember from last year
With just a few days to go before the F1 cars return to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, we take a look back at last year's highlights.
After fourteen years of absence, Imola returned to the Formula 1 World Championship in 2020 to replace the North American races canceled due to the Covid-19 crisis. Exit Grand Prix d’Imola or Grand Prix de Saint-Marin, we now speak of Grand Prix d’Émilie-Romagne, named after the Italian province where the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit is located.
Valtteri Bottas takes pole position and Gasly qualifies in 4th place.
The Finn’s pride is back as he beats his teammate by a narrow tenth of a second, securing his 15th pole position in F1.
Great performance for Pierre Gasly and his AlphaTauri who managed to position themselves just outside the Top 3, a good omen ahead of the race.
The top 5 qualifications 2020:
1. Valtteri Bottas in 1’13.609
2. Lewis Hamilton in 1’13.706
3. Max Verstappen in 1’14.176
4. Pierre Gasly in 1’14.502
5. Daniel Ricciardo in 1’14.520
Podium of Daniel Ricciardo & shoey with Hamilton
Disappointment for Pierre Gasly, even before the start, when his AlphaTauri suffers from a hydraulic leak right from the grid. Repaired in urgency, the Normand unfortunately won’t be able to stay in the race.
This one was won by Lewis Hamilton, who claims his ninth victory of the season ahead of his teammate Valtteri Bottas. The latter completes the Mercedes one-two and secures the constructor’s title.
Ricciardo, in third place, gives Renault a second podium in three races thanks to an opportunity provided by Racing Point and Sergio Perez, the Mexican driver having gone into the pits during the neutralization.
Kvyat finishes fourth after a superb final rush.
On the podium, Ricciardo offers his famous “shoey” to the Mercedes drivers, among whom only Lewis Hamilton accepts… with regrets.
The top 5 of the race:
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Valtteri Bottas
3. Daniel Ricciardo
4. Daniil Kvyat
5. Charles Leclerc
Hamilton’s reserve on his presence in 2021
During the traditional post-race press conference, Lewis Hamilton shakes up the F1 world in response to a journalist questioning him about his future.
« There is no guarantee that I will still be in F1 next year,” the Brit said.
We know today that beyond being the outstanding driver that we know, Lewis Hamilton knows how to be a skillful media agitator.
