Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix – Race: Hamilton winner, Ricciardo 3rd, Verstappen out

Good start for Bottas who got off well from pole position. Verstappen followed well on medium tires, as did Gasly, who caught up with Hamilton. The Brit squeezed the Frenchman, who had to give way, allowing Ricciardo to pass him. In the middle of the pack, Stroll clipped Ocon’s rear tire, ripping off his front wing and forcing him to pit on the first lap. At the back, Vettel collided with Magnussen, sending him into a spin.

The first laps are important for Verstappen who puts in the effort to stay in touch with Bottas.

Pierre Gasly forced to retire after a hydraulic leak on the car. Yet the Frenchman had a good pace, faster than Ricciardo, nothing indicated a failure.

Leclerc and Albon had good race pace and were driving half a second faster than Ricciardo. Pit stop for the Monegasque who resumed on hard tires, followed a lap later by the Australian and the Thai. The tires are wearing out faster than expected with early pit stops.

Only the McLarens and Giovinazzi switched to medium tires after the first pit stop. Warming up the tires is difficult. Bottas, after his stop, zigzags on the straight to build up temperature. He is driving with damage to his floor. Verstappen, who stopped a lap earlier, quickly catches up to the Finn while Hamilton sets the fastest lap in the race by extending his first stint to enact a complete change in strategy.

Magnussen, who didn’t stop, slowed down the progress of Ricciardo, Leclerc, Albon, Kvyat, Sainz, and Norris. This helped to close the gaps between the drivers for a battle for 8th place. Perez took advantage of this jam to pit after a good first stint. This allowed him to come out ahead of this entire group in 7th place.

Abandon for Ocon shortly before mid-race, which triggered a short virtual safety car. The duration of this interruption allowed Hamilton to pit while losing minimal time. He came out 4 seconds ahead of Bottas and placed himself in an ideal position to win the race.

Bottas, with a damaged car, must defend against a pressing Verstappen. A small mistake at the corner exit sent him into the gravel. That was all Verstappen needed to take advantage, aided by DRS, he is second and immediately pulls ahead.

Despite a good stint by Vettel, who could have rejoined in 11th place between Sainz and Norris, Ferrari’s disastrous pit stop likely cost him points. The German rejoined in 14th place behind Giovinazzi. The last to stop was Räikkönen, who completed 49 laps on his medium tires while maintaining a good pace. He rejoined in 12th behind Russell and ahead of Vettel on soft tires.

Misfortune for Verstappen who had a puncture, causing the deployment of the safety car. Perez, Kvyat, Sainz, Russell, and Vettel went to the pits to switch to soft tires. Bottas and Hamilton did the same as well.

While attempting to warm up his tires, Russell went off track behind the safety car by giving it a burst of throttle. He was in the points before his retirement.

Before the restart, Hamilton is in the lead ahead of Bottas. Ricciardo completes the podium in front of Leclerc, Albon, Perez, Kvyat. Sainz, Norris, and Räikkönen complete the top 10!

Kvyat on fire at the restart overtook Albon and Leclerc in the same lap. Albon, struggling with hard and cold tires, lost control of his car after Perez passed him. A race to forget for Red Bull. The drivers who haven’t pitted are in trouble at this end of the race.

Ricciardo held on until the end of the race to claim his second podium of the season by resisting Kvyat. A great achievement for Renault despite Ocon’s retirement. Both Alfa Romeo cars of Räikkönen and Giovinazzi are in the points.

Results at the finish of the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: