Tuscan GP Race Report: Welcome to the old school.
This weekend saw the first, and probably the only, Tuscan Grand Prix. Last week's shenanigans in Monza was a difficult act to follow. However, the Mugello circuit produced yet another thrilling race, keeping us either on the edge of our seats or pacing the room.
“Unfortunately, though, Ferrari’s Saturday night celebration ceremony in the centre of Florence was more impressive than their race performance, and season as a whole.“
The official race name was 'Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio della Toscana Ferrari 1000 2020'. This name highlights what the Grand Prix should have been all about - Ferrari and their thousandth Grand Prix. Unfortunately, though, Ferrari’s Saturday night celebration ceremony in the centre of Florence was more impressive than their race performance, and season as a whole.
In fairness, Charles Leclerc carried out a brilliant job to qualify fifth on the grid, ten places ahead of his teammate. He was aided by the spinning Esteban Ocon ruining others' laps in the final round. However, he had still done well to get through to Q3. Come race day, Charles would start well, getting up to third, before dropping like a stone to finish eighth place. This wasn't a bad position for a Ferrari, but not exactly what the team wanted for their big day.
“Sergio is an intelligent and fast racer - any team, or indeed series, would be lucky to have him.”
Leclerc’s teammate, Sebastian Vettel, would finish in tenth position. Despite this lowly finish, you sense he will still leave Mugello in relatively good spirits. On Thursday, he announced his move to what will become Aston Martin for next season. Signing Vettel shows a strong statement of intent from Racing Point. As one of the most successful champions of all time, Seb knows how to win, and will have an invaluable insight to bring to the Silverstone based team.
With Vettel arriving, somebody had to make way. Sergio Perez was unceremoniously dumped. According to the Mexican, he knew that he would be most likely to leave if Vettel did arrive at the team. Having signed a three-year contract extension, Perez said that he was being told positive things and that he looked likely to stay. What he wasn't being told was that Vettel was in the process of ironing out personal terms with the team that Perez had kept alive just years earlier. It is a sad way for him to depart, but unfortunately, that is the cut-throat way of F1.
So where can Sergio go? There was talk of him going to Red Bull to replace Alex Albon. However, I don't think that would happen, especially following a solid race from Albon. The best option that I can see is replacing Romain Grosjean at Haas. In reality, Perez wants to stay in F1. Yet, if there is nowhere that will challenge him or give him pleasure, he will likely look elsewhere for challenges. I see him trying IndyCar or Formula E out. Sergio is an intelligent and fast racer - any team, or indeed series, would be lucky to have him.
“The challenge was also mental, with gravel lining the edge of the track, punishing any lapse in concentration the old-fashioned way.”
As far as racing circuits go, Mugello is mega. Other than a kilometre long pit straight, the track is a ribbon of corners that come at you thick and fast. The turns were all high speed with camber, making it a pleasure to watch and a rollercoaster on which the drivers could enjoy and be challenged. The forces on the drivers and heat made it a physical challenge. The challenge was also mental, with gravel lining the edge of the track, punishing any lapse in concentration the old-fashioned way.
For the first time in his career, Valtteri Bottas was fastest in all three practice sessions. He looked as though he was putting Lewis Hamilton under pressure. However, Lewis put in the work to pull ahead of Bottas just when it mattered, clinching pole once again by the smallest of margins. With the long pit straight though, Hamilton wasn't home and dry by any stretch of the imagination. A slipstream into the first corner could see any of his rivals getting past into turn 1.
When the lights went out, Valtteri Bottas didn't even need the slipstream. Hamilton had a poor start, with Max Verstappen also looking interested in taking Lewis' position. If it weren't for an engine issue, the Dutchman would have been through along with Charles Leclerc, who was following him closely. Instead, Hamilton was lucky to hold second position as Max dropped back into the frantic pack. Max's slow car was a factor in a first-lap collision, involving a handful of cars. That left Verstappen and, last week's hero, Pierre Gasly, stuck in the punishing gravel trap.
“It was a silly accident, caused by drivers wanting to gain an advantage but not paying full attention.”
Naturally, the safety car was deployed while the retired cars were cleared out of the race. When this period was over, Bottas became in control of the pace of the following cars up until they reached the start/finish line on the pit straight. Due to the power of the slipstream, Bottas waited until the last moment to accelerate to racing speed, to avoid being overtaken - something that he is obliged to do. However, further back, chaos ensued as drivers sped up before braking and realising that the race wasn't underway. It was a silly accident, caused by drivers wanting to gain an advantage but not paying full attention. Nevertheless, the important thing is that everyone involved was okay. It also meant that there were four cars written off on the main straight, so for the second time in two weeks, the race was red-flagged.
Following the break, Hamilton had a chance to beat Bottas from the standing start, and he took it. With a sweep around the outside of the Fin at the first corner, the lead was his. Behind the Mercedes duo, Stroll made it look difficult to overtake the slow Leclerc, but eventually managed it, taking third position.
In this stage of the race, Hamilton had a firm grip on proceedings. He managed his lead to a frustrated Valtteri Bottas, who admitted on the radio that he needed a safety car if he was going to win this race. A couple of laps later, Bottas got even better than what he had wished for - a red flag. Remarkable. The second break in the race came as a result of a rear tyre failure for Lance Stroll as he went through the high-speed and excellently-named Arrabbiata corner. Up to third came Daniel Ricciardo, who had driven well to get up into the podium positions. Now he needed to complete the job.
“Interestingly, Alex thanked Red Bull for sticking with him on the radio after the race. That goes to show the pressures of driving for Red Bull.”
Once Stroll's car had been clumsily cleared away, it was time to get going, once more. This was Bottas' chance to steal the victory from under the nose of his teammate and championship rival, Hamilton. Finally, luck had gone his way. All he needed to do, was repeat what Hamilton had done to him earlier in the race. Alas, Bottas failed to beat Hamilton into turn one. In fact, he was beaten by Daniel Ricciardo, who had a better getaway out of the box. Meanwhile, Alex Albon made up for a poor start, sticking it out around the outside of Sergio Perez for fourth.
As much as it would have been great to see Danny Ric take his first podium for Renault, he didn't have the equipment for a top-three finish. The Renault just wasn't as good a car as the Mercedes and Red Bull. After being passed by Bottas and Albon, Ricciardo would take P4, another pleasing result for the Aussie who rarely fails to impress.
So behind Hamilton and Bottas came a Red Bull. But this time it was Alex Albon, who took his first F1 podium and Red Bull's first podium without Max Verstappen since Daniel Ricciardo. Alex seems to have the backing of the Red Bull hierarchy anyway, but this result will help cement his position at the team for the future. It was a long time coming, but I am sure it'll be the first of many for the London-born Thai. Interestingly, Alex thanked Red Bull for sticking with him on the radio after the race. That goes to show the pressures of driving for Red Bull.
So that brings the triple header of classic racing circuits to a close, while Spa and Monza are legendary and incredible tracks, Mugello rolled back the years with a race of attrition that challenged the drivers in more ways than one. Hamilton took a while to emerge from his car. When he finally did, his exhausted nature demonstrated that he had earned his victory. Exactly what we want to see.
With this his ninetieth win, Lewis Hamilton finds himself one win away from the mighty Michael Schumacher tally. He is marching towards the high watermarks, reaching levels that many thought would never be matched, never mind beaten. In two weeks, Lewis could be calling home from Russia with a record equalled. Tune in then, if you like watching history unfold.