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Lewis Hamilton wins the Emilia-Romagna GP after beating Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen in the pits; Verstappen late crash leads to Safety Car, and Daniel Ricciardo seals Renault podium; Alex Albon turns in the final stages
By Matt Morlidge
Last Updated: 11/01/20 3:13 pm
1:22
Max Verstappen’s tire blows out and he retires from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix from second place
Lewis Hamilton sealed a record-setting 93rd Formula 1 victory after recovering from third position to win the Emilia-Romagna GP ahead of Valtteri Bottas, after Max Verstappen’s accident led to a chaotic finish .
Mercedes, which was pushed hard by Verstappen, achieved its seventh consecutive constructors’ championship with the result, while Hamilton, with an 85-point lead in the standings, can claim his seventh title in the next race in Turkey.
Hamilton was leading from Verstappen before the Red Bull driver, after a long-awaited pass at Bottas, dramatically stretched out onto the gravel to bring out the Safety Car on Imola’s return to F1.
Hamilton then held his nerve to secure maximum points from Bottas, who battled the damage from the second lap of the race that started from pole, while Daniel Ricciardo secured his second podium in three races for Renault.
0:57 Lewis Hamilton wins the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix and Mercedes wins the Constructors’ Championship for the seventh consecutive year, a record.
“People watching may feel that we are used to this, but it always feels like the first with this team and that’s down to the spirit,” Hamilton said of Mercedes’ achievement. “So I’ll always be grateful to be a part of this and break a record like this. No one has ever done it before.
“It’s amazing … Seven times champions, that’s something that one day I will be able to tell my grandchildren.”
Hamilton goes long, Merc was crowned champion, Ricciardo was third
It has been easy for Mercedes in F1 2020, but it certainly wasn’t for Hamilton at Imola despite the family ending.
The Englishman, who started second, lost a place to Verstappen at the start and was then trapped behind Bottas and Red Bull during the first stint of the race.
But then he outlasted his two rivals and with Bottas struggling to keep up and Verstappen unable to overtake him, he had built a gap large enough to outrun his rivals before a virtual Safety Car gave him an extra hand. Ocon stoppage.
1:20 Max Verstappen takes the opportunity to overtake Valtteri Bottas during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
He came out of the pits with a big lead, which he widened, and was 13 seconds behind Verstappen after the Dutchman passed Bottas on the main straight. Soon after, Verstappen’s Red Bull missed and crashed into the wall at Villeneuve’s corner, leading to that last Safety Car.
Both Mercedes pitted, but Hamilton once again turned away from the driver who is now the only man who can stop him in his bid for a record-matching crown.
Big battles in the final stages, instead, turned behind Mercedes, with Renault landing a masterstroke by deciding not to face Ricciardo, who then avoided a late charge from Daniil Kvyat for third place.
1:19 See how Alex Albon has made laps in Tosa during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc sealed fifth ahead of Sergio Perez, whom Racing Point’s strategy may have cost a podium, while Alex Albon endured a finish almost as painful as his teammate Verstappen.
Albon, dueling Perez following the safety car, made an unforced error pulling his Red Bull off the track, finishing last of the remaining 15 drivers. The last thing you needed with your 2021 seat threatened.
Race result of the Emilia-Romagna GP
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
3. Daniel Ricciardo, Renault
4. Daniil Kvyat, AlphaTauri
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
6. Sergio Pérez, Racing Point
7. Carlos Sainz, McLaren
8. Lando Norris, McLaren
9. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo
10. Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
The great disappointment of Gasly, Pérez and Russell
There will be many drivers who are ruining missed opportunities after Sunday’s race, including Pierre Gasly, who was fourth on the grid and challenged the top three at the start, but lasted less than 10 laps before retiring due to a mechanical problem.
Perez will also be frustrated, having usurped Ricciardo for fourth place during the race. He had pitted later than any of his midfield rivals, but Racing Point decided to drive him back under the safety car, dropping him into positions that he could not regain for the remaining six laps.
1:17 George Russell crashes into the barriers behind the Safety Car during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel was unlucky enough to finish 13th, having performed well before a slow Ferrari pit stop cost him a few spots, while George Russell suffered the strangest and most disastrous race retirement of the day.
Russell was tenth and on his way to scoring his first F1 points, but lost control of his Williams as he ran slowly behind the safety car.
The 2020 season now heads to Turkey for round 14 of 17, where Bottas must beat Hamilton by eight points to prevent him from taking the title.
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