VALTTERI BOTTAS TAKES FIRST VICTORY OF 2020

• Posted on 6 July 2020
• By Racing-Arts.com
• 0

Finally. The Formula 1 season has started. And how! The Austrian Grand Prix had it all. With three safety cars, two penalties for Lewis Hamilton and an early dropout for Verstappen, the race was packed with drama. The Fin Bottas kept his cool from start to finish!

The entire Formula 1 circus is tied to corona protocols. Faces are covered with masks or mudguards, the stands remain empty. Even the podium ceremony is different than usual. Not a high platform with a view of the hundreds of incoming fans and congratulations from the necessary bobos, but a sober ceremony on the grid. Fortunately, the champagne shower was still allowed and that was what Lando Norris (McLaren) experienced for the first time in his F1 career.

2020 THE SEASON OF MAX STEPS?

This season, which currently consists of eight races in Europe, must become the season of Max Verstappen. The Red Bull team finally wants to win the world title again. With the improved Honda engine with power unit, it had to go crazy if no Red Bull driver finished on the podium. Especially because the team was very lucky to drive the first race of the season on the 'home' circuit: the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. Add to that the Verstappen's victories in 2018 and 2019 in Austria and voilà: get the champagne ready.
But during the training it immediately became clear that Mercedes is still supreme. This means that the high expectations for the championship for Verstappen are immediately tempered again.

GRID PENALTY FOR LEWIS HAMILTON

In qualifying Bottas and Hamilton took P1 and P2. Verstappen secured third place and would share the starting row with Lando Norris. Alexander Albon (Red Bull) set the fifth fastest time. Ferrari is not a fan of the Austrian circuit and does not have a top car. That became painfully clear: Charles Leclerc started seventh in the top 10. But multiple champion Sebastian Vettel did not go further than P11.
An hour before the start, Hamilton received a grid penalty from the FIA ​​of three places, because he braked too late with a yellow flag in qualifying. And so, Verstappen moved to the front row, next to Bottas.

The first Formula 1 race of 2020

In the first rounds on the Red Bull Ring, there was not a speck of air. After a good start, Bottas and Verstappen maintained their positions. Hamilton caught up with Albon and Norris and pursued P2 after the ninth round. And that was a lot easier than he had thought. Engine problems meant that Verstappen was not the first winner in the 14th round, but the first dropout of this season. He had to pull out all the stops to steer the RB16 safely to the pits. It would not remain with Verstappen, because shortly afterwards Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) and Lance Stroll (Racing Point) also stopped the race and parked their cars in the garage. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) shot straight in a corner and managed to stop his car just in front of the fence. This made the first safety car of the race a fact.
All drivers reported for a tire change in the pit lane. With both Mercedes in the lead and Albon now at P3, the race was resumed. The Mercedes cars are equipped with the DAS system this year. This allows the angle of the tires to be adjusted during the race. This means that the driver varies between more grip in the corners to less grip and friction - so more speed - on the straights. Red Bull has challenged DAS, but to no avail. However, the race went well for the German team. The yellow curbs in particular caused sensor problems in the gearbox. More than once Hamilton and Bottas were instructed to avoid those curbs as much as possible.
In the back of the field, Sebastian Vettel spun when he wanted to overtake Carlos Sainz (McLaren). Luckily he stayed on track (P15) and would eventually take another point by finishing 10th. Sainz is next season at Ferrari next to Leclerc. Vettel doesn't have a seat with any other team yet. The poor performance in the first race of the season is probably not good for the negotiations.

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOOSE

In round 49 the ending was for Romain Grosjean (Haas) and George Russel (Williams). They also faced technical problems. The second safety car brought the whole field close together again, with Albon firmly on P3. After the restart, Kimi Räikkönen, who hadn't shown the entire race, had a special moment when the right front wheel came off. He was the number 7 dropout and responsible for the third safety car.
With only 13 drivers on the track - and that in beautiful weather - Bottas followed again with a quick restart, followed by Hamilton and Albon. Verstappen's teammate was now faced with the choice: defending third place and being assured of a podium place and points for the team? Or could he write history by overtaking Lewis Hamilton and finishing second? He chose the latter. However, his overtaking maneuver turned out wrong. Hamilton touched him, after which Albon spun. Who didn't think about the Grand Prix of Brazil last year when exactly the same thing happened? It gave Hamilton 5 penalty seconds, which would put him in fourth place in Austria.

VALTTERI BOTTLE CONVINCING WINNER

In the 57th round, the second Red Bull failed (engine problems) and Daniil Kvyat (AlphaTauri) also did not reach the finish line. And so only 11 cars finished, with Bottas the convincing winner, Charles Leclerc surprising second and a delirious Lando Norris third. The Briton also took the extra point for the fastest lap! Sainz, Perez (Racing Point), Gasly (AlphaTauri), Ocon (Renault), Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) and Vettel also took points for the rankings. Only Williams debutant Latifi fell just outside the top 10.

In a week, Verstappen and Albon will take revenge. Because the second race on the Red Bull Ring will take place on Sunday 12 July: the Styrian Grand Prix; to the state in which the circuit is located.