MOTORING CORRESPONDENT
There was drama aplenty at the first Formula One race since the onset of COVID-19. The highest dramatic point was right at the end of the race when reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton was pushed out of a podium position.
The Austrian Grand Prix was won by Mercedes’s Valtteri Bottas following a stunning drive from pole position. Hamilton, crossed the line in the second position, was dramatically edged out of the podium position after he was docked five seconds for causing Red Bulls’ Alex Albon to crash.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was second, with Lando Norris of McLaren making a historic third. Norris (20) became the youngest British driver to get a podium finish.
F1 pundits thought that the crash between Hamilton and Albon cost the Red Bull driver the race. Albon was on a surge with 10 laps to go and was on course to pass Hamilton and Bottas. He was making a move to pass Hamilton at turn 4 when their cars made contact. His race ended a few laps later. His retirement was a double blow for Red Bull after a mechanical problem ended Max Verstappen’s race.
An upset Albon said in a post-race interview that he wanted to cool down first before providing comment on the incident. Hamilton, however, said he was ready to forget the incident and focus on the next race.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel had a nightmarish weekend. After problems in the qualifying rounds, he struggled in the race, spinning the car and ended in 10th position. This is the four time world champion’s last season at Ferrari.
Drama started at the beginning of the race, when six of 20 drivers opted not to “take the knee” in support of the anti-racism movement.
A total of nine drivers did not finish the race. In addition to Albon and Verstappen, the other no-finishers were: Ricciardo (Renault), Stroll (Racing Point), Magnussen (Hass), Russell (Williams), Grosjean (Hass),Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) and Kvyat (Alfatauri).
AUSTRIAN GP TOP 10:
1. Bottas
2. Leclerc
3. Norris
4. Hamilton
5. Sainz
6. Perez
7. Gasly
8. Ocon
9. Giovinazzi
10. Vettel
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing and Alexander Albon of Thailand and Red Bull Racing walk during the Red Bull Racing RB16 launch at Silverstone Circuit on February 12, 2020 in Northampton, England. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images 
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing looks on from the garage during the Red Bull Racing RB16 launch at Silverstone Circuit on February 12, 2020, in Northampton, England. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images 
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 25: Alexander Albon of Thailand and Red Bull Racing poses for a photo during the Red Bull Racing RB16 Filming Day at Silverstone Circuit on June 25, 2020, in Northampton, England. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images 
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner looks on from the pits during the Red Bull Racing RB16 launch at Silverstone Circuit on February 12, 2020, in Northampton, England. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images
