Hamilton accelerates strategy and wins busy Formula 1 GP at Imola

It seemed to be a warm race at Imola this Sunday (1st), but the Emilia-Romagna GP turned out to be quite a stir. The race that started warm and dominated by Valtteri Bottas ended with a virtual safety car assisting Lewis Hamilton, who took first place and won.

Hamilton finished the first lap in third place, also behind Max Verstappen. But the Briton was right by postponing the first stop, gaining a free lane and the possibility of benefiting from the virtual safety car caused by Esteban Ocon’s abandonment.

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Before the virtual safety car, Bottas had a real chance of winning. The Finn had a strong pace, but was betrayed by a damaged floor and a misplaced strategy. Runway debris caused problems at No. 77, which became extremely vulnerable. Valtteri only got a second place due to the abandonment of Verstappen, victim of a puncture.

Daniel Ricciardo took advantage of Verstappen’s abandonment and a strategic error by Racing Point with Sergio Pérez to return to the podium. He is second to the Australian in the last three races. Daniil Kvyat, who gained ground in the final laps, took a great fourth place. The Russian made up for Pierre Gasly’s retirement due to mechanical problems, even in the first laps.

Charles Leclerc completed the top-5. Pérez traded a possible podium for sixth place by making a second pit stop. Carlos Sainz Jr., Lando Noris, Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi closed the points zone.

The race had two times and in very different circumstances. Verstappen had a puncture and ended up stuck in the gravel. George Russell, for his part, lost alone under the safety car, filling the wall and saying goodbye with a clear chance to score.

Find out how the Emilia Romagna GP was

Before the start, the race management confirmed the drivers’ tire choices for the start. Outside of the top 10, forced to use Q2 tires and with only Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen of the middleweight, they all opted for the middleweight as well. Only Giovinazzi, 20th and last, chose the soft ones.

The beginning was great for Bottas. The Finn started off very well and saw Verstappen take second place from Hamilton. Ricciardo moved up to fourth, leaving Gasly in fifth.

Verstappen put pressure on Bottas but had trouble overtaking. The gap between the two leveled off at 0s8, with Hamilton opening 8s and only being able to handle the situation.

Bottas, erratic, seemed to invite Verstappen to fight for the position. The Finn made a mistake when leaving Rivazza, before the main straight, and was on the verge of losing his position. A few more laps and, with the same mistake, he handed over the position of the second tray.

Lap 50 turned the race upside down. Verstappen had a fault at the rear of the car, with the tire exploding in a straight line. The Dutchman got stuck in the gravel near the track and forced the safety car. Hamilton and Bottas took the opportunity to get soft and go first and second. Perez, momentarily third, also stopped, but fell to sixth.

The reboot was intense. Pérez climbed smoothly against tough riders, dreaming of regaining the podium. The first overtaking came against Albon in Villeneuve. The Thai ended up riding alone after the turn, being forced to stop again and knocked out.

A few laps later, Kvyat’s excellent maneuver against Leclerc, creatively occupying fourth place on the mixed part of the course.

This, however, did not change the fight for the podium in any way. Hamilton won, followed by Bottas and Ricciardo.

F1 2020, GP of Emilia-Romagna, Imola: