Motorsports: Crashes light two red flags in F1 ‘madness’ as Lewis Hamilton wins Tuscany GP

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton won the inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix, securing his sixth victory of the 2020 Formula 1 season and the 90th victory of his career.

Meanwhile, Red Bull driver Alex Albon clinched his first F1 podium, but all that was said from Tuscany’s Mugello Circuit was about the chaotic crashes that plagued the race.

Only 12 cars crossed the finish line on Sunday, and several drivers were forced to retire during the 59-lap race.

The chaos began on the first lap, when a collision in the first corner sent last weekend’s winner, Pierre Gasly, and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen flying off the track. McLaren driver Carlos Sainz spun around in the middle of the asphalt, as several rivals frantically tried to dodge the runaway car.

Two former Grand Prix winners were forced to retire without completing a lap when yellow flags were displayed in Tuscany.

But the chaos was by no means over. After the yellow flag ended on lap seven, the drivers were accelerating when several cars collided at the rear of the peloton.

With four stationary cars and a mountain of debris strewn across the main straight, red flags were displayed for the second straight F1 race.

“That was fucking stupid of whoever was at the front,” shouted Haas driver Romain Grosjean.

“Do they want to kill us or what? This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

With 50 laps remaining, the race resumed from a stopped start, and Australian Daniel Ricciardo maneuvered his way to podium positions after a tactical pit stop.

On lap 42, Racing Point’s Lance Stroll went off the track after receiving a puncture, prematurely ending his Tuscany GP.

Stroll was at P4 and fighting Albon when he flew towards the barriers at high speed, but was unharmed during the terrifying incident.

Unfortunately, another red flag was displayed and the drivers were forced to return to the pits again when stewards cleared the burning car from the track.

The race got underway again for the third time, with Ricciardo briefly finding himself in second place after overtaking Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas from the standing start.

However, Bottas and Red Bull driver Alex Albon overtook the Australian to secure podium spots.

“It was a bit groggy. It was like three races in one day. It was incredibly difficult today, obviously with a tough start,” Hamilton said after the race.

“This track is phenomenal. Obviously the heat and keeping Valtteri Bottas, who has been fast all weekend, was not easy and I was behind at the beginning. All those restarts, the focus that is needed during that time, is really , very difficult. “

On the podium, Hamilton wore a T-shirt that read, “Arrest the Cops Who Killed Breonna Taylor.”

Albon was happy to get his first F1 podium: “Obviously a while to get here, and it was difficult. I had to work to get there.

“I can breathe, it feels good to be here.

“We just didn’t go off the line, so most of the overtaking had to be done on the track. Our car brakes well, we know that from day one, so we can do the kinds of moves like that. It’s fun to do. drive “.