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Two careers in one: from the “usual” to the unprecedented thanks to withdrawals
If the start was on average monotonous, it must be said that retirements and accidents characterized and conditioned the final result of this great prize. After a very regular start for Hamilton’s stellar Mercedes, Sainz immediately slipped into second place, with Norris immediately poised to undermine Bottas. Verstappen also got off to a bad start, moving from fifth to ninth place. A week to forget, having never found the right setting. With no chance of beating Bottas in the championship, on the contrary, he eventually retired while the Finn still took home a fifth place finish.
Fortunately, after the twentieth lap there was something that definitely moved the waters. A Kevin Magnussen abandonment with an oil leak on the track forced the entry of the safety car. And hence a bit of confusion for the investigation of Hamilton and Giovinazzi, suspected of having entered the pits at the wrong time, when they were already closed. Both will be found guilty, with a 10-second pit stop into the race. However, Hamilton will be able to recover until seventh, unfortunately Giovinazzi will finish last.
Then another big event, the third of the day. By lap six, Vettel had started to shut down the engine, through no fault of his own: a “straight” at the end of the straight due to a brake failure. Ferrari’s last withdrawal from Monza was in 2014 with Alonso, due to the Power Unit. A few minutes after the safety car came out, the race froze again on lap 27 because Leclerc, in the middle of the parabolic, made a bad “straight”, destroying the car. The rear left is clearly to the left, it tried to react by doing a little “pendulum” but the car responded too clearly, taking a bad angle to the outside. In this case it was not a failure, but a risk too assumed by the Monegasque. He had temporarily seen himself fourth and hoped to perform a miracle. Instead he went wrong at 220 per hour, thankfully getting up out of the cockpit on his legs. Perhaps still cold tires or a bet to cover the shortcomings of your car. The fact is that even this week the statistics are merciless: you have to go back to 1995 to find an Italian Grand Prix without both Ferraris at the end, but at that point Berger and Alesi were starting third and fifth on the grid. The restoration of the track after this outing took a long time. He asked for the red flag. The drivers returned to the pits, standing still for several minutes. Hamilton had to rush into the race on a scooter, but it didn’t help him. However, the decision was inexorable and affected the entire race. With the car, the skills and the luck that he has, nobody imagined that it could go so wrong. Instead, after the last restart from a standstill, we saw another race, with other forces at play. Mastery of Pierre Gasly’s Alpha Tauri, never beaten in more than 20 laps. A historic moment for Formula 1.
Faenza balances the scores with the other Italian misfortunes
Ferrari is at an all-time low, but only a week from now will it finally be racing again in front of a real Italian audience. Among other things, his audience at his Mugello track, which will attract many “owners” of Ferrari Clubs and many “fans” who have not been able to see Monza. A unique opportunity, the first for this strange 2020 that will then also see a third test in the trunk, with the return of Imola. Although it no longer looks “Italian” like it did in the Minardi days, due to the branding and the absence of Italian drivers for some time, the victory of the Alpha Tauri is really good news. Too bad for Alfa Romeo, who at times today would have imagined points, given that Raikkonen had shown some polish in recent races and the two points won by only Giovinazzi were a bit close to the pride of the forties. It is a pity, however, that even for the Apulian there was no revenge: Antonio’s call to the pit stop was not, on the other hand, fortunate in terms of timing and methods. In hindsight, if I had waited, it would surely have ended better than the last.
Amarcord Williams and Regazzoni
On this weekend, the leadership of the team of the same name by the perhaps unrepeatable Williams family is forever hailed. The last member of the dynasty to command was Claire, forty-four years old, daughter of Frank, who from tomorrow will leave a very rich American investment fund, Dorilton Capital, in command, in the hope that she can give back to the team. the glories of the past. Now a wind of innovation was necessary: there are 114 victories in the record, but the last one signed by Pastor Maldonado already dates back to 2012. The first was instead of Clay Regazzoni, the unforgettable Swiss pilot who had filled Frank Williams and Frank Williams with joy. Patrick Head in 1979. The Lugano clay must be remembered with special affection by the fans in red, because yesterday was his birthday and this weekend also celebrated the 50th anniversary of that first victory, in his Formula 1 career, obtained in Monza. and only in the fifth race in the highest category. Behind him, Jackie Stewart. The day before, Jochen Rindt, the only posthumous winner in the history of the sport, disappeared onto the track. Regazzoni still managed to finish his debut season in third place despite just eight races, behind Rindt and Ickx.
