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Imola is the scene of the great party for Mercedes on the return of Formula 1 after 14 years! The Silver Arrows celebrate a double victory through Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas and thus secure the title in the constructors’ championship. It is the seventh title in a row, a record in Formula 1! Statistics >>>
Poleador Bottas holds the lead early, behind Max Verstappen ahead of Lewis Hamilton at Red Bull. The decision in favor of the Briton was made in the first pit stops: while Bottas and Verstappen went in to change tires on lap 20, Hamilton stayed out and built up enough lead to stay in the lead after his stop. A virtual safety car after the retirement of Esteban Ocon also plays on the cards of the world championship leader.
Hamilton celebrates his ninth win of the season at Imola ahead of Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo. The Renault driver inherits the podium from Verstappen, who takes second place on lap 52 with a puncture.
In the next phase of the safety car, Sergio Pérez, like many others, was hired to change tires in third place. Daniel Ricciardo, who stays out and climbs to third place, benefits from it. The Australian was able to maintain this position at the restart on hard tires and secured the podium.
The man at the restart is Daniil Kvyat (Alpha Tauri), who improved to fourth place. Charles Leclerc is fifth at Ferrari. His teammate Sebastian Vettel has to be content with 13th place after a botched pit stop.
Race result >>>
Already fixed: the drivers’ championship also goes to Mercedes
With Verstappen leaving, it is also clear that the drivers’ championship title will definitely go to Mercedes. After his 93rd career success, Hamilton is on his way to his seventh title, extending his lead over Bottas to 85 points. In two weeks in Istanbul Bottas has to regain eight points against Hamilton, otherwise the seventh title is arranged for his competitor. That would also match a Schumacher brand in this category for now.
World Cup Stand >>>
Ricciardo: “Bizzares” Rennen
At first Bottas, who took pole, came out well, but Verstappen soon overtook Hamilton. After that, the Bottas-Verstappen-Hamilton trio remained relatively compact for a time. Verstappen and Bottas were the first to pit to change tires, Hamilton only followed on lap 31 after a few fast laps. He had gotten enough of an advantage over Bottas to stay ahead after his save.
In this overcut everything went well for the six-time world champion. Shortly before his stop, he benefited from a brief activation of the virtual safety car and furthermore, the Mercedes radio revealed that the underside of Bottas’s car was damaged early by the remains of another car. “We think it was from a Ferrari or a Haas,” Wolff said later.
The Finn fell further and further behind Hamilton, on lap 43, Verstappen passed him. On lap 51, however, the Dutchman, who had run an impeccable race, broke the right rear tire. After the safety car phase at the end, Hamilton left nothing to burn.
Ricciardo classified the race as “strange”. The Australian had already achieved the first podium for Renault at the Nürburgring, unlike the race in Germany, the future McLaren Pliot this time took a big drink from his racing shoe right at the award ceremony. “It was fun,” Ricciardo said.
Behind him were Daniil Kvyat at the AlphaTauri, Charles Leclerc at the Ferrari and Sergio Pérez at the Racing Point. 41-year-old Alfa Romeo veteran Kimi Raikkonen took two points in the World Championship in ninth place and was voted “Driver of the Day”. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel came in at 13th, as did Alexander Albon in the second Red Bull at 15th.
Text as: © LAOLA1.at
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