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In a tumultuous race at Imola, Lewis Hamilton won his 93rd Formula 1 victory at the Emilia-Romagna GP on Sunday. The Englishman also helped Mercedes secure an unprecedented seven-consecutive constructors’ championship. Valtteri Bottas, who had started from pole and led the opening laps, finished second despite problems on the car floor, and Daniel Ricciardo completed the podium in third place with Renault.
With the result, Hamilton can already be seven times world champion in the next race in Turkey. The Englishman has an 85-point lead over Bottas with 104 up for grabs, and to win the title he needs a third or fourth place, with the extra point from the fastest lap.
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Hamilton crosses the finish line to win at Imola – Photo: Getty Images
Hamilton dropped to third place after the start, behind Max Verstappen, but extended his stay on the track before the pit stop and opened up to his rivals on good tires. A virtual safety car for Esteban Ocon’s car recall helped confirm the Englishman’s lead when he pitted. Later, Verstappen had a puncture and pulled into the gravel box, forcing the safety car to enter. On the restart, Hamilton controlled Bottas, set the best lap and confirmed his ninth win in 2020.
Daniel Ricciardo withstood a final attack from AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat and secured the second podium in the final three races of the season. Charles Leclerc led Ferrari to fifth place, and Sergio Pérez (Racing Point), Carlos Sainz Jr. (McLaren), Lando Norris (McLaren), Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) and Antonio Giovinazzi (from sixth to tenth place) Alfa Romeo) .
The next stage of Formula 1 2020 will be played in two weeks in Turkey.
What you need to know?
– Lewis Hamilton’s 93rd win, extending the F1 record.
– The Englishman reached the scoring zone for the 46th consecutive race.
– Mercedes is the first team with seven consecutive titles.
– Second podium for Daniel Ricciardo in the 2020 season.
– Fourth place is Daniil Kvyat’s best result of the year.
– Alfa Romeo scored for the first time in 2020 with both cars.
Start of the Emilia-Romagna GP, in Imola – Photo: Getty Images
Bottas held the lead after the start, and Verstappen edged out Hamilton, who nearly lost third place to Ricciardo. This overtook Gasly, who fell to fifth place. Further back, Stroll had his front wing damaged in a touchdown with Ocon, and Magnussen rode Curve Tosa after touching down with Vettel, but managed to get back on track.
Verstappen overtakes Hamilton at the start of the Emilia Romagna Formula 1 GP
Lance Stroll plays Esteban Ocon at the start
Check out the replay of the start of the Emilia Romagna Formula 1 GP
1. Hamilton complained about the difficulty of following Verstappen closely.
Lewis Hamilton says it’s hard to keep up with the car ahead
2. Sainz edged out Norris and ranked ninth at Tamburello.
Carlos Sainz passes Lando Norris
3. Gasly abandoned with problems in the AlphaTauri car.
Pierre Gasly drops out
4. Leclerc is the first to change tires, as is Ocon.
Leclerc our boxes
5. Ricciardo, Albon and Kvyat stopped on the next lap.
Ricciardo, Albon and Kvyat go to the pits
6. Albon closed Kvyat and the cars touched, but there was no damage.
Touch of Albon and Kvyat
7. Verstappen made the pitstop on hard tires on lap 19. Bottas responded to Max’s stop and made the change on lap 20.
Verstappen goes to the pits
8. Ricciardo and Leclerc passed Magnussen on the same lap.
Magnussen overtakes Ricciardo and receives attack from Leclerc
9. Ocon left and the virtual safety car was activated. Hamilton took the opportunity to change the tires and return to the lead.
Ocon abandons to try
Lewis Hamilton takes advantage of the yellow flag and goes to the pits
10. Max Verstappen left the track at Acque Minerale, but retained third place.
Verstappen gives escape from the track
11. Verstappen started after Bottas, who had a hard time balancing the car.
Verstappen chases Bottas in pursuit of second place
12. After Bottas’ mistake, Verstappen seizes the opportunity to take second place.
Bottas fails again and loses second place to Max Vestappen at the Emilia Romagna GP
13. Verstappen ran on a flat tire and quit; Safety car got on the track.
Max Vestappen blows a tire, runs off the track, abandons the race and Safety Car enters the track
Watch the replay of the round that took Vestappen out of the race
14. Bottas took advantage and made a second tire change. On the next lap, Hamilton also stopped and went ahead of the Finn.
Valteri Bottas takes advantage of the Safety Car and goes to the pits
16. With the safety car on the track, Russell lost the car alone and crashed.
George Russell was in the scoring zone, but leaves the race with Safety Car on the track
17. Mechanic run over in the pits.
Lance Stroll touches an injured mechanic
18. In a bumpy start, Pérez passed Albon, who was riding, and Kvyat beat Leclerc.
Safety Car leaves the track and Sergio Pérez does it well and Albon runs
19. Hamilton confirmed the victory, giving Mercedes the constructors livery.
Watch Lewis Hamilton’s last lap win another in Formula 1
Mercedes wins the seventh consecutive title in the Constructors’ World Championship
