WITH visits to Mugello and the Nurburgring, it is all but confirmed that old school circuits far outclass the passionless supermarket car parks that pass as F1 circuits these days.
Friday’s practice sessions were cancelled due to fog and the subsequent inability of the medical helicopter to fly should it be needed.
The absence of running on Friday, and extremely cold conditions, heightened the challenge on an already highly technical circuit.
Nevertheless, Valtteri Bottas was able to secure pole position ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. Saturday morning also brought the announcement that Lance Stroll would be unable to drive due to illness. In stepped super-sub Nico Hulkenberg who had subbed for Checo Perez at Silverstone several races ago.
Bottas momentarily lost the lead to Hamilton but steamed around the outside of turn one to retake P1 while Verstappen followed behind in third.
Unfortunately, the Finn’s ascendency was short-lived as he locked up into turn one on lap 13 and allowed Hamilton into the lead.
Verstappen kept relatively close in third, but fourth-placed Leclerc couldn’t keep the pace. Vettel spun off at turn one while running outside of the points and flat-spotted his tyres while Kimi Raikkonen, in his 323rd race, locked up into turn one and careened into the side of George Russell. The Williams driver was forced into retirement, while Raikkonen was handed a 10-second penalty.
It wasn’t stellar for Bottas either as he retired on lap 18, prompting an enticing battle for the final step on the podium between Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris and Sergio Perez.
A sensor issue put paid to Norris’s race on lap 44, brought out the safety car and set up a 10-lap sprint to the chequered flag.
Ricciardo’s third place finish is the first for Renault since 2011 while Perez came home in fourth ahead of Sainz in fifth. Pierre Gasly churned out another solid drive in sixth as Leclerc salvaged seventh. Hulkenberg finished a stunning eighth after qualifying 20th. Romain Grosjean scored his first points of the season in ninth ahead of Antonio Giovinazzi in 10th. Former teammates Vettel and Raikkonen finished 11th and 12th.
The achievement of Michael Schumacher’s 91 race wins seemed a near impossible record to break. To maintain the motivation, desire and level of skill must be commended. The Schumacher family recognised Hamilton’s achievement with a presentation of Schumacher’s 2012 helmet by son, Mick Schumacher.
