BOITUMELO RANTAO
MERCEDES driver Lewis Hamilton stormed to his 92nd career race win at the historic Imola track in Italy.
Hamilton predicted a boring race, due to tough overtaking conditions, but to his surprise was left in third position behind teammate Valterri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The defending world champion held his composure to seal a Mercedes 1-2 finish, ahead of Bottas. The win sealed Mercedes’ seventh constructors championship, the most all-time, breaking the tie with rivals Ferrari.
“People watching at home might think we are used to this but to be part of breaking a record [seven titles] like this is incredible,” said Hamilton.
“It’s overwhelming right now. I look at my team and think of everyone back home at Brackley – they’re the unsung heroes,” he added.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised his team’s dominance “This is something to be proud of. We have a group that is just amazing together, we’ve tried to push the benchmark to new levels and we’ve achieved that”
Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo completed the podium with his second third place finish of the 2020 season. AlphaTauri’s Daniel Kyvat benefitted from a late strategy adjustment for his best finish of the season in fourth. Kyvat’s teammate Pierre Gasly, who started fourth on the grid, was forced to retire early on in the race.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc fought valiantly to take the chequered flag in fifth, ahead of Racing Point driver Sergio Perez. Mclaren drivers Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris finished in seventh and eighth respectively. The pair were racing unbothered for most of the race.
Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikonnen was voted Driver of the day taking ninth position, after racing just behind the lead pack for most of the afternoon. Fellow Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi completed the top 10 taking his best finish of the 2020 season.
Did Not Finish (DNF)
- Russell (WIlliams)
- Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Magnussen (Haas)
- Ocon (Renault)
- Gasly (AlphaTauri)
