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Pierre Gasly claimed his first F1 race win, taking the checkered flag after a drama-filled Italian GP in which Lewis Hamilton finished seventh.
Formula 1
Mick Schumacher provides a ray of sunshine for the sad Ferrari
05/09/2020 AT 18:29
This was a race that, rarely this season, was reduced to the last lap, with Gasly barely holding on to Carlos Sainz’s McLaren. Lance Stroll claimed the final podium position while Monza lived up to its reputation for drama.
The crucial point of the race occurred when Kevin Magnussen’s retirement and then Charles Leclerc’s collision with the tire barrier caused red flags. However, Hamilton did not realize that the pit lane was closed when Magnussen’s car was moved and pitched, resulting in a 10-second stop-go penalty.
That put the world championship leader at the bottom of the group and gave a host of drivers a chance to win their first race. In the end, it was Gasly who seized the opportunity, holding down Sainz and Stroll to cross the line first.
The victory was the first in F1 for Gasly and the first for a French driver since Olivier Panis in 1996.
DRIVER OF THE DAY – Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
what a difference a year makes. 2019 was a season to forget for Gasly, as he was replaced as Red Bull’s second driver and sent back to Toro Ross, as he was at the time. However, this was redemption. There is no denying that Gasly was presented with an opportunity through a sequence of peculiar and fortuitous events, but the young Frenchman took it with both hands. His defense in the final laps was exceptional.
WHERE WAS THE RACE
- 1/53 – LIGHTS OFF! Hamilton comes out well, but Sainz passes Bottas at the first corner. Norris has invented squares too! What a start for the two McLarens! I’m not entirely sure where Bottas is! Did he get into the second corner too ?! It’s sixth!
- 6/53 – Vettel DNF! “The brakes failed, the brakes failed,” says the former world champion on the Ferrari team radio. He went straight through the temporary chicane made of polystyrene. This will be a DNF for Vettel. Things are going from bad to worse for the Scuderia.
- 23/53 – Hamilton could be in trouble here! The pit lane was closed, yet the race leader changed tires as the marshals pushed Magnussen’s car through that area of the track. Could Hamilton get a penalty here? This could rock the race! We are waiting to find out … Giovinazzi also pitted.
- 25/53 – Leclerc on the barrier! That is a big accident. Leclerc is on the barrier! His Ferrari is wrecked, but he moves well. That’s a relief because it was a bad fall. What a disaster for the Scuderia. Leclerc lost the rear of the car when accelerating and ended up turning towards the barrier at high speed.
- 26/53 – Session stopped! The damage to the barrier caused by Leclerc’s Ferrari means that the race will stop here. Marshals need time to essentially rebuild the barrier before we can start the race again. What a drama we have had at Monza. We are only halfway through the race!
- Hamilton Penalty! 10 second penalty to stop / advance! Hamilton received his punishment for entering the pit lane when it was closed. That’s a pretty severe penalty for the race leader. This will cost you. What an unusual race this has been. Drivers are out of their cars in the pit lane while sheriffs rebuild the barrier.
- 28/53 – Start stopped! Lights off for the second time this afternoon! Hamilton is off to a good start off the grid, Stroll manages to stay second through the first few corners, but his brakes seem to be fuming! Have any problem? It has now dropped to sixth place after opening! Gasly until the second! DRAMA!
- 32/53 – DNF for Verstappen! What a great missed opportunity for Red Bull. This was an opportunity for them to make the most of a rare Mercedes slip, but Verstappen has experienced a problem and is now out of the race. Red Bull took him to the pits to remove him. Verstappen looks furious.
- 43/53 – Sainz closing! There is some excitement in the McLaren garage. They feel that something special is happening to them here. Sainz is closing the gap with Gasly at P1. There are only two and a half seconds between the two forwards. Meanwhile, Norris is about four seconds from Stroll. Racing Point is also in a good position!
- 53/53 – Last lap! Gasly still has something to defend here! Sainz says “I want this win” on the team radio, but it’s too far away. It can’t get close enough to the AlphaTauri. Meanwhile, Hamilton is at P8. He has managed to salvage some points after his stop / go penalty.
- Gasly wins the Italian GP! What a result for Gasly! The AlphaTauri takes the checkered flag after an incredible race at Monza! Woohoo! Sainz gave it his all on the last lap, but couldn’t get close to Gasly. Walk complete the podium positions! Norris in P4, but this is about Gasly and Alphatauri!
PIT EXCHANGE OF THE DAY
“That’s bullshit,” Hamilton said on the Mercedes team radio after serving his 10-second penalty. This was the moment when the race changed and the top positions were opened. Hamilton was unhappy about having to serve the penalty, even going up to watch the stewards when the drivers took a break mid-race due to red flags.
BEST REACH
With less than 20 laps remaining and an opportunity emerging, Sainz decided to step things up by going around the outside of Kimi Raikkonen. There was enough space for the Spaniard to pass his McLaren, but he managed it. This was a demonstration of an excellent and fair race between two good drivers.
Formula 1
No sign of the party ending for F1 champions Mercedes
05/09/2020 AT 5:30 PM
Italian Grand Prix
Hamilton sets fastest lap in F1 history to claim pole at Monza
05/09/2020 AT 2:22 PM
