Hamilton finally signs on the dotted line

Posted on by James Mackenzie

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have come to an agreement on a new contract for the seven-time world champion. But it’s only for 2021…

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff celebrate Mercedes' seventh world title.

After a year of speculation – albeit with the general acceptance that the two parties would get things sorted eventually – the deal is finally done. From the outside, there seemed little reason to break up a winning combination. Arguably the most successful combination in the history of the sport.

Hamilton’s contract negotiations have often dragged on in recent years, since he took control of the process himself and has also moved into a powerful position as Formula 1’s most eminent figure. This one has been especially lengthy, though.

That is likely in part due to complications regarding the pandemic. It would appear that, in the past, Hamilton and Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff have often met up for dinner and hammered out the bulk of the agreement. That is obviously not so easily done currently.

But there have also been rumours regarding other sticking points. Some have mentioned a ‘Verstappen Clause’, which revolved around Hamilton being able to have a say on his teammate for 2022. Despite the name, that was not necessarily focussed directly on Max Verstappen, but the Dutchman is the most likely threat to Hamilton’s dominance in the sport and Wolff is known to have been keeping tabs on him for years. Mercedes even tried to sign him as a 16-year-old, but weren’t able to match Red Bull‘s promise of an immediate drive.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in 2019.
Image credit: Getty Images

However, Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2023 and Mercedes know all too well the pitfalls of having two ‘alpha’ drivers, both determined to lead the team, from their volatile years with the pairing of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

The more likely option for 2022 and beyond is surely George Russell. He is a junior Mercedes driver who demonstrated his considerable potential when given his one surprise opportunity at Sakhir and Daimler chairman Ola Kallenius wants Russell to be the team’s number one after Hamilton. The young Briton’s contract with Williams is up at the end of 2021 – as is that of current Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas – so it would appear that there are three Mercedes drivers in competition for the two 2022 seats.

There is also talk of Hamilton’s new contract containing an option for a second year, though.

It is hard to know how much longer he wants to continue. From one race to the next he will often go from sounding like he is on the verge of announcing his retirement to discussing his excitement for the new regulations in 2022.

The 36-year-old is certainly aware that he is entering the twilight of his F1 career and has many passions outside the sport – his music, his fashion, his new XE team and his fight for equality – but you can see how intensely that competitive desire still burns every race weekend.

He has also utilised Formula 1 as a springboard for his various campaigns and, indeed, this new contract contains a ‘joint commitment for greater diversity and inclusion’. Perhaps he will take stock at the end of this year – when there is a good chance he will have become the outright most successful driver in history with an eighth title – and decide if he does want to continue.

George Russell in the Mercedes at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
Image credit: LAT Images

If the answer is yes, Mercedes would surely keep him on, and it would then most likely boil down to a battle between Russell and Bottas for the second seat. Mercedes would need to weigh up the pros and cons of consistency through a regulation change versus giving a deserved opportunity to their future star, who surely can only wait so long for his promotion.

If the answer is no, would they embrace change and swoop for Verstappen? A Verstappen and Russell pairing would likely be thrilling and very fast, but it would have undeniable parallels with a certain driver pairing at McLaren in 2007. And we all know how that one worked out…

Taking your chance at Ferrari

Posted on by James Mackenzie

How do you fill the shoes of a four-time world champion?

You would imagine that this thought has – fleetingly, at least – crossed the mind of Carlos Sainz ahead of his move to Ferrari this year. He will replace Sebastian Vettel who, whilst ultimately unsuccessful in his quest to bring a title back to Maranello, spearheaded the Italian marque’s endeavours from 2015 to 2020.

Many suspect the Spaniard will fulfil a role as the de facto number two to the Scuderia’s rising superstar, Charles Leclerc, but let’s not write him off so soon. It is worth remembering that Sainz largely matched Max Verstappen during their time as teammates at Toro Rosso and, after a somewhat uninspiring spell at Renault, has reminded the paddock of his considerable potential with two excellent seasons in the papaya orange of McLaren.

However, numerous Ferrari drivers have shown great potential, only for the expectation of the Tifosi – if not an entire nation – to weigh too heavily upon their shoulders.

So, can Sainz shine where many before him have only glimmered? He joins Ferrari after a few seasons at midfield teams who haven’t provided a serious chance at victory. How have those in a similar situation fared over the last few decades? Let’s investigate.

Jean Alesi

Tyrrell > Ferrari, 1991 | Races Before Move: 24 | Races for Ferrari: 81 | Wins: 1

Jean Alesi made quite an impact during his two seasons with Tyrrell, claiming two podiums in an underpowered car and famously battling with Ayrton Senna for the lead of the 1990 season-opener in Phoenix. His performances were impressive enough for Ferrari to take a chance on the young Frenchman.

Despite coping well with immediately having to compete with Alain Prost, Alesi would prove to be the perennial underachiever of F1 during the 90s – undeniably fast, but also an ill-fated combination of foolhardy and unlucky.

A Sicilian-born, passionate driver of the evocative number 27 Ferrari, Alesi was inevitably popular with the Tifosi but would ultimately manage just one win in 1995, before swapping seats with Michael Schumacher and moving to Benetton.

Eddie Irvine

Jordan > Ferrari, 1996 | Races Before Move: 32 | Races for Ferrari: 65 | Wins: 4

Eddie Irvine made an instant impression in F1 by scoring a point on his debut and then promptly being punched by Senna for having unlapped himself. Controversy continued to follow him, with two separate bans the following year and a subsequent threat of his Super Licence being revoked. He certainly showed flashes of speed in between the altercations, though, and Ferrari were suitably impressed to buy out his new contract with Jordan.

Irvine was initially unconvincing and, after a series of eight consecutive retirements, the Italian press was calling for him to be sacked. He steadily improved, however, and played a strong supporting role to Schumacher, before assuming the role of team leader in 1999 when the German broke his leg in a crash halfway through the season.

He would eventually miss out on the championship by two points but played a large part in Ferrari winning their first constructors’ title in 16 years. It would prove to be his final contribution before a largely unsuccessful move to Jaguar.

Rubens Barrichello

Stewart > Ferrari, 2000 | Races Before Move: 114 | Races for Ferrari: 104 | Wins: 9

Seen as a potential successor to Senna, Rubens Barrichello was already experienced in carrying the hopes of a nation by the time he joined Ferrari in 2000. He was, however, entering what was very much Schumacher’s team and that is something he would not be able to change over the subsequent six years.

The popular Brazilian would come to epitomise the ‘number two’ driver role – consistent, compliant and reliable but never quite fast enough to challenge the superstar on the other side of the garage. Team orders were, in fact, banned at the end of 2002 after the controversy of Ferrari forcing Barrichello to hand over a victory to his teammate in Austria.

With more freedom and a less commanding teammate, ‘Rubinho’ would likely have won far more than nine grands prix and could well have challenged for a title.

Felipe Massa

Sauber > Ferrari, 2006 | Races Before Move: 53 | Races for Ferrari: 139 | Wins: 11

Another popular Brazilian and one that would go on to become a Ferrari ‘number two’ also. Felipe Massa started out equal parts fast and error-prone with a hit-and-miss season at Sauber in 2002 but, after spending the following year as test driver for Ferrari, he rejoined his former team a more mature driver. He convincingly outpaced his former world champion teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, throughout the 2005 season and was signed to partner Schumacher at Ferrari for 2006.

Whilst still somewhat inconsistent, Massa was always fast and came about as close as you can to winning a world championship in 2008; only Lewis Hamilton’s infamous last corner “Is that Glock?” moment denying him the title.

A freak accident in 2009 left Massa briefly in a coma and, whilst he would recover in time for the following season, he was arguably never the same driver again. He spent his final four years with Ferrari in a support role to teammate Fernando Alonso and would never win another race.

Carlos Sainz

McLaren > Ferrari, 2021 | Races Before Move: 119 | Races For Ferrari: ? | Wins: ?

So, what does the future hold for Sainz in the red of the Scuderia?

Obviously, after such a calamitous season for Ferrari in 2020, the goalposts for a new recruit have been moved. The team will be rebuilding and that will likely help Sainz find his feet with expectations somewhat tempered for 2021 and a year to acclimatise without the instant pressure most of his predecessors have had to deal with.

Ferrari have historically held a policy of employing tried-and-tested drivers, but taking a chance on youth and potential last year, in Leclerc, proved very successful and 2021 will see the youngest Ferrari line-up in living memory. As we can see from these examples, joining Ferrari and dethroning a multiple world champion is no easy feat, but the young Monégasque managed it over the last two years. Now Sainz will have to attempt to dethrone him…

The 2020 Mostly F1 Awards

Posted on by James Mackenzie

2020 is a year many will be looking to put behind them, but let’s quickly focus on it once more and dish out a few awards – some orthodox, some less so – for a season that nobody will ever forget.

Driver of the Year

Lewis Hamilton admiring Michael Schumacher's helmet, which he was presented for matching the German's record.
Image credit: LAT Images

There were a few contenders for this award. Max Verstappen was excellent all year and took the battle to the superior Mercedes cars more often than he had any right to. Pierre Gasly topped off a fantastic redemption arc with an unlikely victory in Monza and there were also stellar performances from Sergio Pérez and Daniel Ricciardo.

Ultimately, though, it has to go to that man again – Lewis Hamilton. At the end of a season where he broke record after record and matched Michael Schumacher‘s high-tide mark of seven world titles, it would be wrong to give it to anybody else. Car number 44 won 11 of its 16 races and, whether or not that car is the class of the field, that takes some doing. Plus, who am I to argue with Her Majesty?

Honorable Mentions: Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Sergio Pérez.

Team of the Year

McLaren celebrate third place in the Constructors' Championship.
Image credit: McLaren F1

Now for a more controversial choice. Yes – as previously mentioned – Mercedes were once again the class of the field. By a long shot. But there were also mistakes, such as the radio calls to Hamilton in both Monza and Sochi, and controversies, such as the ‘Tracing Point’ saga and DAS.

McLaren clinching third in the Constructors’ Championship is a huge achievement and took a real team effort. Both drivers were excellent and very consistent throughout the season, the pit crews were error-free and management topped things off with a crucial investment and the signing of Ricciardo for 2021.

Third place is huge for the Woking team and shows that they continue to head in the right direction. After all, what would the odds of McLaren finishing ahead of Ferrari have been just a couple of years ago?

Honourable Mentions: Mercedes

Race of the Year

Lewis Hamilton is overcome with emotion as he seals his seventh title.
Image credit: LAT Images

The German Grand Prix was a fairly clear winner for the 2019 ‘Race of the Year’ but this time round it isn’t quite so clear cut. Eventful races in Italy and Sakhir produced shock winners and the cold weather in Portugal produced plenty of intrigue.

The Turkish Grand Prix takes the gong, though. Starting off with a shock maiden pole position for Lance Stroll, it was action-packed as drivers struggled with the slippery, wet tarmac after a recent resurfacing and a downpour on Sunday morning. And it proved to be just as momentous as it was chaotic, with Hamilton producing a victory thoroughly worthy of wrapping up a historic seventh world title.

Honourable Mentions: Italian Grand Prix, Sakhir Grand Prix, Portuguese Grand Prix

Drive of the Year

George Russell in the Mercedes at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
Image credit: LAT Images

When Hamilton contracted Covid-19, George Russell was unexpectedly thrust into the limelight with a chance in the dominant Mercedes at the Sakhir Grand Prix. The young Briton already had a strong reputation, having never been outqualified by a teammate after nearly two seasons in the sport.

But surely this was too big of an ask? Russell only had the three practice sessions to grow accustomed to his new machinery and barely fit into the car. On Saturday, though, he would finish qualifying just two hundredths behind Valtteri Bottas and then topped that by beating his vastly more experienced teammate off the line to lead on Sunday.

Sadly, the fairytale was not to be, thanks to some horrendous luck and a Mercedes blunder – which the next award shall expand on – but Russell nonetheless grabbed the sport’s attention and is now surely one season at most away from a seat much nearer the front of the field.

Honourable Mentions: Sergio Pérez in Sakhir, Lewis Hamilton in Turkey, Pierre Gasly at Monza

Blunder of the Year

So, yes, that blunder…

Mercedes are totally infallible and unflappable…99% of the time. But that 1% tends to be pretty disastrous. Hamilton’s pit stop at Germany in 2019 was comedic and embarrassing – especially due to the team wearing effective fancy dress in honour of 125 years in motorsport – but perhaps more understandable as Hamilton had crashed and immediately driven into the pits on a wet but drying track.

The disastrous pit stop in Sakhir was perhaps more costly and equally embarrassing. Mercedes called both drivers in for a ‘safety stop’ and had to double-stack, but a radio issue led to a miscommunication and confusion as Russell drove off with some of Bottas’s tyres and the Finn then sat there for 30 seconds as that realisation dawned upon the mechanics.

Russell had to pit again for the correct tyres the following lap and, to add salt to the wound, would pick up a puncture as he raced back through the field.

Honourable Mentions: Mercedes at Monza, Racing Point at Imola

Crash of the Year

The multi-car pile-up at Mugello would have taken ‘Crash of the Year’ comfortably in recent years. But 2020 had another surprise in store for the F1 world, in the shape of the most horrifying crash in decades.

When Romain Grosjean speared into the barriers at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix and produced an instantaneous fireball, many at home and in the garages feared the worst. But, after two agonising minutes of no replays and no information, it was confirmed Grosjean had miraculously escaped and was safely sitting in the medical car.

The impact measured 53G but the Haas driver somehow remained conscious. He then found a way to escape the mangled wreckage – minus one shoe – and leapt over the barrier, aided by the heroic medical team, to safety. It is not the way Grosjean would have imagined he would enter retirement, but he is now surely just pleased to have reached it at all.

Honourable Mentions: Multi-car pile-up at Mugello, Lance Stroll in Bahrain

Overtake of the Year

Any overtake through Eau Rouge – yes, I know…it’s Raidillon actually – looks great, but the manner in which Pierre Gasly kept his foot in as Pérez squeezed him into the wall on the run up makes this one extra special.

The bravery was particularly poignant as Gasly remembered his close friend, Anthoine Hubert, who had sadly died in a crash at the same corner a year earlier.

Honourable Mentions: George Russell in Sakhir, Kevin Magnussen in Spain

Opening Lap of the Year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ChdaNDFI30

Whilst it was the other Alfa Romeo driver, Antonio Giovinazzi, who relentlessly made up positions at the start in 2020 – obviously helped by qualifying towards the back each time – Kimi Räikkönen surely had the best opening lap of the year.

As the pack slithered round in the freezing conditions in Portugal, ‘The Iceman’ lived up to his name, climbing from 16th to 6th in one tour of the 4.692 km circuit. There’s life in the old dog yet.

Honourable Mentions: Sebastian Vettel in Turkey, Antonio Giovinazzi at Monza

Best Day of Silly Season

Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo in their new team overalls.

‘Silly season’ got underway before a wheel had been turned in anger in 2020. With Covid-19 halting matters in Melbourne and then ultimately causing a four-month delay, there was at least some action to discuss in the driver market.

Especially so when, in the space of 24 hours, Sebastian Vettel was confirmed to be leaving Ferrari at the end of the season, Carlos Sainz was named as his replacement and then Ricciardo filled the vacant seat at McLaren.

Honourable Mentions: Vettel replacing Pérez, Pérez replacing Albon

Best Vocal Performance

Vettel’s surprise farewell song to his Ferrari team was very touching, but the performance maybe left a little to be desired. Lando Norris, however, belted out a radio check in Mugello with the confidence of a drunk man in a karaoke bar.

Honourable Mentions: Sebastian Vettel in Abu Dhabi

2020 drivers’ report cards

Posted on by James Mackenzie

Lewis Hamilton

1st | Pts: 347 | Wins: 11 | Podiums: 14 | Poles: 10 | FL: 6 | Ret: 0

Lewis Hamilton somehow matched many of his statistics from 2019 despite a truncated season of just 17 races, one of which he missed after contracting Coronavirus (and was then clearly still suffering the effects upon his return for the finale). Before his absence at the Sakhir Grand Prix, the World Champion was looking likely to break Jim Clark‘s record for the highest percentage of laps led in a season.

Either way, winning 11 of his 16 races shows the level of dominance from Hamilton this year, which he puts down to the Black Lives Matter movement giving him extra drive. He may be turning 36 in January – and still not technically confirmed at Mercedes for 2021 – but he shows no signs of slowing down just yet. Which is bad news for his competitors.

Highlight: Matching Michael Schumacher‘s record of seven world championship titles.

Lowlight: His week with Covid-19. It would appear that it hit him hard.

GRADE: A+

Valtteri Bottas

2nd | Pts: 223 | Wins: 2 | Podiums: 11 | Poles: 5 | FL: 2 | Ret: 1

2020 proved to be another false dawn for Valtteri Bottas. After winning the belated season opener, the Finn gradually fell away from Hamilton in the standings and, by the time Hamilton had wrapped up the title in Turkey, was barely hanging onto second place in the championship.

It must be said that Bottas suffered more than his fair share of bad luck again; a tyre blow-out at Silverstone and engine failure at the Nürburgring were both costly. Ultimately, though, he just wasn’t good enough. Taking on Lewis Hamilton for the title in the same machinery is one of the biggest challenges in the sport and Bottas is left with another winter of reflection, trying to figure out a way to beat one of the greatest of all time.

Highlight: A perfect start in Austria.

Lowlight: An embarrassing day of spins in the wet as Hamilton clinched the title in Turkey.

Grade: B-

Max Verstappen

3rd | PTS: 214 | WINS: 2 | PODIUMS: 11 | POLES: 1 | FL: 3 | RET: 5

Max Verstappen has competed with Hamilton for ‘driver of the year’ rights throughout the season and there is precious little to separate them. He has frequently outperformed his Red Bull machinery and taken the fight to the Mercedes cars on his own, whilst his teammate was fighting in the midfield.

The flying Dutchman appears to have reached a new level of maturity whilst holding onto his raw speed and, given the right machinery, could surely mount a serious title challenge. Verstappen has not had much of a threat from the other side of the garage since Daniel Ricciardo left in 2018. Perhaps the experience of Sergio Pérez can help develop the car and push him on further next season.

Highlight: A dominant win in Abu Dhabi was a nice way to way to enter the winter break.

Lowlight: Throwing away a chance at victory in Turkey after a moment of impatience.

Grade: A

Alexander Albon

7th | PTS: 105 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 3rd) | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 2

It has been a tough year for Alexander Albon. After showing promise in his short spell at Red Bull last year, team bosses had hoped the affable Anglo-Thai driver could push on with time to fully prepare and a complete season. But, sadly, they have been disappointed.

Albon may well have won the first race of the year, if not for the collision with Hamilton, but things unravelled thereafter. He looked increasingly jaded as the season wore on and he remained the wrong side of half a second per lap slower than Verstappen. At least he was allowed to see out the season and given every chance to impress, which has not always been a courtesy granted to those at Red Bull.

In the end, his demotion to reserve driver looks the correct choice; hopefully he can take some time to clear his head and return stronger.

Highlight: A long-overdue maiden podium at Mugello after overtaking Ricciardo.

Lowlight: Being widely mocked for a radio message where he complained about being ‘raced so hard’ as he struggled to pass the AlphaTauris.

Grade: D

Carlos Sainz

6TH | PTS: 105 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 2nd) | PODIUMS: 1 | POLES: 0 | FL: 1 | RET: 2

After some poor luck earlier in the season, Carlos Sainz recovered to claim sixth in the drivers’ standings for the second year running, which is a good representation of his consistency during his time at McLaren. The Spaniard also very nearly claimed a maiden victory at the madcap Italian Grand Prix and overtook the Mercedes to lead early on in Portugal.

His performances in orange have earned him a move to the famous red of Ferrari. Oddly, it could currently be viewed as a move backwards considering the Scuderia’s struggles in 2020. Wherever they prove to be in the pecking order over the next two years, Charles Leclerc will be a very challenging teammate and should prove definitively whether Sainz is a driver in the top echelon or a solid support act for a superstar.

Highlight: Mixed emotions when so close to victory, but second in Monza still tastes pretty sweet ahead of a move to Ferrari.

Lowlight: A cruel late puncture at Silverstone costing him fourth place.

Grade: B+

Lando Norris

9TH | PTS: 97 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 3rd) | PODIUMS: 1 | POLES: 0 | FL: 2 | RET: 1

Lando Norris started the season with two spectacular races in Austria. A first ever podium snatched on the line at the first was followed up with another dramatic finish a week later and the new nickname of ‘Last Lap Lando’.

Things generally didn’t fall the young Briton’s way in the second half of the season, however, and he wasn’t in the right place to capitalise during the crazy races in Italy and Bahrain. It was another consistent season, though, and Norris just about edged his more-experienced teammate in the qualifying and race head-to-heads over their two years together. It may be the end of the ‘Carlando’ bromance but Ricciardo will likely prove just as fun and at least as fast.

Highlight: Getting to demonstrate his signature champagne-spraying technique at the first race.

Lowlight: An engine failure when competing for a podium at the Nürburgring left him sat in a deckchair.

Grade: B

Sergio Pérez

4TH | PTS: 125 | WINS: 1 | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 2

It took the prospect of Sergio Pérez leaving the sport for some people to truly appreciate him. Once the news broke that he would be replaced by Sebastian Vettel next year, pundits and drivers alike came out and said it would be a travesty if the Mexican didn’t find a seat for 2021. Pérez justified their remarks with a series of stellar performances, culminating in an emotional maiden win at the Sakhir Grand Prix and fourth in the standings despite missing two races with Covid-19.

The poisoned chalice of the second seat at Red Bull is his reward. It’s not an easy job, but Pérez is a wise, old head these days and knows his strengths and weaknesses. He’s unlikely to best Verstappen on a Saturday too often but his ability to preserve his tyres may well bring him back into the running on race day.

Highlight: A very well-deserved win in Sakhir, even after finishing the opening lap in last place.

Lowlight: An engine failure a week earlier in Bahrain costing him a podium.

Grade: A-

Lance Stroll

11TH | PTS: 75 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 3rd) | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 1 | FL: 0 | RET: 5

A strong start to the year – including a podium at Monza – saw Lance Stroll temporarily holding fourth in the standings. But then came a horrible run of bad luck. A tyre failure when chasing another podium in Mugello was followed by being spun out on the first lap in Russia and then a very messy episode at the Nürburgring. Stroll withdrew due to a ‘stomach bug’ but was then confirmed as having Covid-19 a week later.

He took a surprise pole position in Turkey and led for much of the race, but an ill-advised pit stop saw him fall back to ninth. Being flipped upside-down in Bahrain, followed by another podium a week later and then a frustrating race in Abu Dhabi completed a rollercoaster season for the Canadian. He has certainly shown more flashes of speed this season, though, and can compare himself against a four-time world champion next year in the rebranded Aston Martin.

Highlight: That surprise maiden pole – the first by a Canadian not named Villeneuve.

Lowlight: A costly, heavy crash in Mugello.

Grade: B-

Daniel Ricciardo

5TH | PTS: 119 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 3rd) | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 0 | FL: 2 | RET: 1

It took the best part of two years, but Daniel Ricciardo did eventually succeed in his goal of a podium at Renault – their first in over a decade – and thus earned a tattoo for team boss Cyril Abiteboul. Ricciardo was already confirmed to leave the team, though, as he moves to McLaren for 2021.

Whilst the Renault project that persuaded the Honey Badger to leave Red Bull appears to be making more progress than it was last year, McLaren is still arguably a step up in team – third in the standings this year and with Mercedes engines for 2021. Ricciardo also crushed another well-respected teammate in Esteban Ocon and now has Norris in his sights for next year.

Highlight: Finally claiming that podium after numerous near misses.

Lowlight: A safety car costing him third place two races earlier in Mugello.

Grade: A-

Esteban Ocon

12TH | PTs: 62 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 2nd) | PODIUMS: 1 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 4

It has been a challenging year for Esteban Ocon. His reputation as a potential star of the future has taken a hit after something of a mauling by his older teammate. 15-2 in qualifying and 13-4 on race day doesn’t make for pretty reading, but there were some mitigating factors.

He certainly had the worst of the reliability issues and was returning the sport after a year as a reserve driver to a brand new car. Nonetheless, he will likely need to do better next season to retain his seat and the replacement for Ricciardo is none other than double world champion Fernando Alonso. Who, whilst turning 40 next year, is unlikely to be a pushover…

Highlight: Another driver with a maiden podium – this time in Sakhir.

Lowlight: Yet another mechanical failure when running strongly at the Eifel Grand Prix.

Grade: C

Sebastian Vettel

13th | Pts: 33 | Wins: 0 | Podiums: 1 | Poles: 0 | FL: 0 | Ret: 2

Back in January, the odds of Sebastian Vettel finishing the season in 13th would have been pretty huge. And yet, what once would have been headline-worthy, is now mundane.

It has been a rough year for the former champion. After being informed back in May that his services would no longer be required come the end of the season, Vettel has often looked disinterested and off the pace. Perhaps understandably so, considering the appalling car that Ferrari produced for 2020 and his lack of an incentive to work towards improving it for next year.

There was, at least, a surprise podium in Turkey and it was fitting that he shared that podium with Hamilton as he matched the record of Vettel’s idol. A new project in Aston Martin green suits Vettel well and will surely see him producing the performances which we know he can deliver.

Highlight: Using his experience to claim one final podium for Ferrari amid the madness of Istanbul.

Lowlight: Spending most of the season half a second off the pace of his teammate.

Grade: C-

Charles Leclerc

8TH | PTS: 98 | WINS: 0 | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 4

Ferrari may have had a shocking year, but it has at least allowed the raw talent of Charles Leclerc to shine. He has consistently overdelivered and earned himself two unlikely podiums early in the year, whilst building on his momentum from last year and, frankly, crushing Vettel. The German’s farewell message even described Leclerc as “the most talented driver he has come across in 15 years of F1”.

There have been mistakes, however. Leclerc clumsily took both Ferraris out at the first corner in Styria and caused another early incident in Sakhir. He also threw away podium at the final few corners in Turkey. It is easy to forget, though, that this is only his third season in the sport and, if he irons out those errors, he could well deliver on Vettel’s big words over the next few years.

Highlight: A stunning drive to third place at Silverstone.

Lowlight: Judging by his radio message, that error in Turkey cut him deep.

Grade: B+

Daniil Kvyat

14TH | PTS: 32 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 4th) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 2

Daniil Kvyat came on strong towards the end of the year, with an impressive fourth place at Imola and some great qualifying performances. But it was a case of too little, too late as he was dropped by AlphaTauri for the latest Red Bull prodigy in the shape of Yuki Tsunoda and is left without a seat for 2021.

The Russian’s Red Bull rollercoaster has finally come to an end but he appears determined to find a route back into the sport. He has certainly shown some talent over the years but has rarely been consistent. Will any team decide to give him a chance in 2022? Time will tell.

Highlight: Nearly snatching a podium at Imola.

Lowlight: The agonising minutes waiting to hear about Romain Grosjean after his (innocent) involvement in the accident.

Grade: C

Pierre Gasly

10th | PTS: 75 | WINS: 1 | PODIUMS: 1 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 3

What a difference a year can make and what a difference it has made for Pierre Gasly. Just over 12 months after being dropped by Red Bull, he took an incredible maiden victory at Monza in an AlphaTauri.

Whilst it obviously required a fair dose of luck, it was a fitting reward for what is one of F1’s great comebacks in recent years. Gasly has been excellent all year and the big question now is where he can go next. There is seemingly no place for him at Red Bull in the future and the rumours are that he has been speaking to Renault (or Alpine as they will be known) about a seat for 2022. He will need to ensure he beats Tsunoda first though.

Highlight: No competition. The biggest shock victory in years.

Lowlight: Being denied a shot at another podium in Imola by a mechanical failure.

Grade: A-

Kimi Räikkönen

16TH | PTS: 4 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 9TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 1

With Alfa Romeo struggling to get into the points, many expected Kimi Räikkönen to call it a day at the end of the season. And he has certainly seemed unenthused – even by his own standards – this year. But no, he lives to race once more.

He will turn 42 during the 2021 season but generally still delivers on race day, even if he seems to have lost some outright speed during qualifying. As much as it’s hard to believe, he must truly love racing if he’s happy to continue driving round in the lower midfield for another year.

Highlight: Bwoah, who knows? It was all okay.

Lowlight: See above.

Grade: C+

Antonio Giovinazzi

17TH | PTS: 4 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 9TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 3

Ninth at the opening grand prix of the year was as good as it got for Antonio Giovinazzi in 2020. There were two further points-scoring races but not much else of note.

The Italian has made some progress and edged out his teammate in qualifying, but most of the paddock expected him to make way for one of the many Ferrari academy drivers in F2 next year. As it was, Mick Schumacher went to Haas, Callum Ilott became Ferrari’s test driver and Robert Shwartzman has been given another year in F2. So, Giovinazzi gets another season. He will need to do something pretty special with it to prove his worth.

Highlight: Probably keeping his seat for next year.

Lowlight: Crashing at Spa for the second consecutive year (and receiving very little sympathy from his teammate).

Grade: C

Romain Grosjean

19TH | PTS: 2 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 9TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 3

It had been a fairly understated season from Romain Grosjean up until Bahrain, with very few incidents – which made a pleasant change from last year. But then came a crash that was the equivalent of a season’s worth of incidents, and then some.

The images of Grosjean miraculously escaping the fireball that had engulfed the remnants of his Haas will leave an indelible mark on the sport. It is a shame that he did not get to sign off in the manner that he would have liked with a heroic return in Abu Dhabi, but things will have been thoroughly put into perspective by that crash. Grosjean gets to go home to his young family and that is the biggest prize.

Highlight: Surviving a horrific, 53-G crash.

Lowlight: The point at which he “accepted death” whilst stuck in the cockpit.

Grade: An Honorary A

Kevin Magnussen

20TH | PTS: 1 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 10TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 7

2020 proved to be another frustrating year for Kevin Magnussen and he honestly seems happy enough to be losing his seat. Haas struggled again – particularly now that they were hampered with an underpowered Ferrari engine – and the 28-year-old managed just one single point all year. He certainly wasn’t aided by reliability, ending up with comfortably the most retirements on the grid, largely thanks to mechanical issues.

It is bizarre to think that Magnussen’s sole podium in his entire F1 career was on his debut. He has since said it was actually a poisoned chalice in that it set his expectations too high. A move to race for Chip Ganassi in the WTSCC will hopefully allow him to experience that champagne feeling for the first time in seven years.

Highlight: Briefly running third in Hungary after a strategy gamble paid off.

Lowlight: Most of the rest of the year.

Grade: C+

George Russell

18TH | PTS: 2 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 9TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 1 | RET: 4

Having spent most of the year once again excelling in a slow Williams, George Russell was suddenly propelled into the limelight as he replaced the Covid-stricken Hamilton at Mercedes. And boy, did he seize his opportunity.

Russell had earned the ‘Mr. Saturday’ nickname after never having been outqualified by a teammate and dragging the Williams into Q2 on numerous occasions. And he very nearly kept his perfect record despite his lack of experience – and barely fitting into the car – qualifying just two hundredths behind Bottas. He then topped that on Sunday by passing Bottas off the line and controlling the race. Only for a botched Mercedes pit stop and a puncture to cruelly deny him an extraordinary result.

Nonetheless, he enhanced his already burgeoning reputation and is now metaphorically – if not quite literally – hammering on Toto Wolff’s door for a seat at Mercedes in 2022.

Highlight: Passing Bottas to lead into the first corner for the first time.

Lowlight: Either the poor luck in Sakhir or spinning under the safety car when on for his first points with Williams.

Grade: A-

Nicholas Latifi

21st | PTS: 0 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 11TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 3

Nicholas Latifi came into the sport with a reputation as nothing more than a pay driver but, whilst not exactly setting the world alight, he has been closer to Russell than Robert Kubica was last year. And few have criticised the decision to retain him for next season.

He is another, though, who will likely have to find another level to prove remain in the sport for 2022. Especially with Williams under new management and less desperate for funds.

Highlight: Very nearly an unlikely point in 11th on his debut.

Lowlight: Russell’s appearance in a Mercedes meaning Latifi dropped below him in the standings.

Grade: C-

2020 Abu Dhabi GP report | Verstappen wins season finale

Posted on by James Mackenzie
As is often the case, the Abu Dhabi finale produces a spectacle of style over substance.
Max Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Image credit: Getty Images

Max Verstappen took his second victory of 2020 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, during a weekend where, for the first time this year, Red Bull clearly had the outright fastest car.

Qualifying on Saturday was close – the top three separated by less than a tenth of a second – but surprisingly it was Verstappen who came away with his first pole of the year. And on Sunday, he simply drove away into the setting sun. It was a performance reminiscent of the Red Bull glory days of 2010 – 2013 but now with Verstappen at the wheel rather than Sebastian Vettel. Unfortunately it proved to be yet another sopirific race at the Yas Marina circuit.

The Mercedes behind never looked a threat and it was telling that Alexander Albon was challenging them in the final laps, rather than battling midfield cars. An off-colour Lewis Hamilton – clearly still struggling as he recovers from contracting Covid-19 – meandered round to third before saying, “I’m destroyed – I do not feel good. But I’m happy, I’m grateful. I’m alive, and I live to fight another day.”

Some saw this as promising for a close title battle next year – and Mercedes predictably talked up that prospect – but this dominant win came with some caveats.

In addition to housing a less-than-100% Hamilton, the World Champions had detuned their engines after discovering a reliability concern with their MGU-K. They had also struggled with balance throughout the weekend and were losing three tenths per lap in Turns Five, Six and Seven alone.

Image credit: Getty Images

Most importantly, though, Mercedes – after seeing the level of their dominance early in the year – abandoned development on the all-conquering W11 to concentrate on next year’s car about halfway through the season. Technical director James Allison has pointed out that 2021’s regulations aren’t quite as copy-paste as many would have you believe.

“Actually, you can design an entire new suspension on next year’s car. You can spend your allowable tokens on quite considerable upgrades. You could be permitted to put a new gearbox on your new car if you use your permitted development tokens for that, or a new chassis.

“These are not small twiddles to an existing package. They are quite large ones. If we showed up with the first iterations of this modified regulation set, we would go from pole position to more or less last on the grid. So, there is a lot of work to do.”

If they are truly to challenge, Red Bull must put to bed their recent habit of starting the season slowly, with a tricky car which they slowly gain an understanding of. And a second driver who can consistently challenge at the front wouldn’t hurt either…

The Battle for the ‘Best of the Rest’

After last weekend’s shock win – and double podium – for Racing Point, third place in the constructors’ standings looked theirs to lose.

But things started to unravel when they discovered an engine issue on Sergio Pérez’s car – one that, in fact, came perilously close to denying him an emotional maiden win. The Mexican would have to start the race from the back of the grid. This problem for the Pink Panthers was then compounded by the McLarens’ excellent performance in qualifying, with Lando Norris starting in fourth and Carlos Sainz in sixth.

The sun sets on Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Image credit: DPPI

On race day, Norris inevitably fell behind the rapid Red Bull of Albon but, from there, those in papaya didn’t put a foot wrong and came home in fifth and sixth for a crucial haul of 18 points.

Pérez’s recovery drive was short-lived; another engine failure cruelly put an end to his final race with the team. After seven years – during which time he has saved the team from bankruptcy and delivered their first win – this will have had absolutely no effect on his hero status though.

The other Racing Point of Lance Stroll could only struggle to a single point for 10th and, with the Renaults in seventh and ninth, the unofficial title of ‘best of the rest’ – and more importantly, the extra prize money – went to McLaren.

Racing Point’s 15-point deduction back in the summer for illegally copying the Mercedes 2019 car proved crucial in the end. But they start afresh next year – rebranded as Aston Martin, with four-time world champion Vettel leading the team – and will look to push on towards the battle at the front.

A Race of Farewells

Abu Dhabi saw the end of many chapters. As mentioned, Pérez leaves Racing Point to be replaced by Vettel; the Ferrari driver was given a guard of honour by his mechanics and honoured via a special helmet design from teammate Charles Leclerc.

Image credit: James Moy

It was also Daniil Kvyat’s last race for AlphaTauri. The Russian’s Red Bull rollercoaster ride is finally over, but he is determined to find a spot on the grid elsewhere in 2022 and – after a mediocre start to the season – his performances of late have shown that he still has the potential to shine if given the right car.

The Sainz-Norris bromance at McLaren was heartbreakingly torn apart as the former prepares for his move to Ferrari. They signed off in trademark style though. And a Ricciardo-Norris partnership is unlikely to be dull.

Finally, it was farewell to the Haas drivers. It has been an underwhelming year in terms of performance, but Kevin Magnussen has shown a characteristic fighting spirit throughout. And if we’re talking of fighting spirit… Romain Grosjean was sadly unable to compete in his final race, but the images of him escaping that terrifying fireball in Bahrain will last forever. He may even have bagged himself a drive in the fastest F1 car of all time to see off his career. There are far worse ways to end a career and I’m sure many of them ran through his mind during those excruciating 28 seconds.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 60 Seconds

Answering the Burning Questions

Will Lewis Hamilton experience any knock-on effects from the virus? Apparently so. He certainly didn’t seem his usual self.

How will George Russell readjust to the Williams after a taste at the front? All the usual talk of being happy to be back and he performed at his usual high level.

Who can go into the winter break on a high? Verstappen, Red Bull and McLaren.

Which team will claim third in the standings and which driver will claim fourth? Pérez held on for fourth, despite his retirement contributing to McLaren snatching third from Racing Point.

2020 Abu Dhabi GP preview

Posted on by James Mackenzie

The Burning Questions

Will Lewis Hamilton experience any knock-on effects from the virus?

How will George Russell readjust to the Williams after a taste at the front?

Who can go into the winter break on a high?

Which team will claim third in the standings and which driver will claim fourth?

The Track

The Stats

Track Length: 5.554 km

Laps: 55

Race Distance: 305.355 km

First Grand Prix: 2009

Race Lap Record: Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2019 | 1:39.283

Outright Lap Record: Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2019 | 1:34.779

Most Driver Wins: Lewis Hamilton | 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019

Most Constructor Wins: Mercedes | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

The Weather

The Quotes

George Russell | “Obviously as a driver you always believe in yourself, you always have confidence in yourself. Being at Williams the past 18 months, not even being able to fight for points, deep down you think you’re doing a good job but you never quite know until you get that chance to prove it.”

Sergio Pérez | “I’m not fully in control of my future at the moment and it’s something that bothers you, I think any human being in this position would struggle a bit. But given it’s not in my hands, given the victory came, it took a long time but it came, I feel I made the most of my opportunities. If I have a seat for next year it’s great but if not, I’m willing to come back in ’22.”

Valtteri Bottas | “Many factors in this sport, sometimes it’s luck, sometimes it’s what you get from the car. All I can say is that if I look art the last four races, I need to do better.”

Nikita Mazepin | “I would like to apologise for my recent actions both in terms of my own inappropriate behaviour and the fact that it was posted onto social media. I am sorry for the offense I have rightly caused and to the embarrassment I have brought to Haas F1 team. I have to hold myself to a higher standard as a Formula 1 driver and I acknowledge I have let myself and many people down. I promise I will learn from this.”

The Photos

The Predictions

Podium

Pole Position

Fastest Lap

Driver of the Day

2020 Sakhir GP report | Pérez takes surprise win as Russell is cruelly denied

Posted on by James Mackenzie
From the sublime to the ridiculous.
Sergio Pérez wins the Sakhir Grand Prix.
Image credit: Getty Images

The man who finished the opening lap in last place somehow ended up taking a maiden victory. And that sums up a crazy night under the lights at the Sakhir Grand Prix.

In the absence of Lewis Hamilton – who is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 – Mercedes protégé George Russell was given a shot in the champion’s car, narrowly managing to squeeze his 6’2″ frame and size 11 feet into the cockpit. Over the course of three days, he made quite an impression.

Whilst there were mitigating circumstances for Valtteri Bottas on Friday, such as a damaged floor and deleted lap times, the young Briton immediately found himself at the top of the charts during the first two practice sessions. Bottas recovered to claim pole position on Saturday but only by the smallest of margins. And when the lights went out, he was on the back foot again.

Despite his fears of unfamiliarity with the Mercedes clutch and start systems, Russell got away the better of the Mercedes pair and passed his vastly more experienced teammate into Turn 1.

The race start at the Sakhir Grand Prix.
Image credit: Getty Images

As was the case seven days ago, the run through Turns 3 and 4 produced much incident. Kimi Räikkönen spun through a full 360° towards the back but carried on. Charles Leclerc – after a stunning qualifying lap had seen him start fourth – made an ambitious dive up the inside of Sergio Pérez but hit the Racing Point and broke his own front-left wishbone in the process. Max Verstappen attempted to avoid the spinning Pérez but, in doing so, found himself in the gravel and on an unavoidable trip to the wall.

This brought out the safety car, allowing Pérez to pit and rejoin at the back of the pack. Russell aced the restart and opened out a two-second lead, which he would maintain comfortably for the entirety of the first stint.

Once Russell had pitted on lap 45, Bottas extended for a further four laps and came out nine seconds behind his new teammate but, crucially, with fresher tyres. The Finn started to close the gap. It had come down to four seconds by lap 61 and we appeared to be in for a titanic inter-team scrap for the win, with Bottas looking desperate on a weekend where his credibility had taken quite a hit. But then came the incident that changed the race.

Debutant Jack Aitken clipped the barriers and lost his front wing at the exit of the final corner. The abandoned chunk of Williams was sitting on the racing line and, with no clear gap in the traffic for a marshal to retrieve it, a safety car was called. Mercedes chose to do a ‘safety stop’ and bring both cars in, wary of being followed by cars on fresher, softer tyres in the final laps.

But nothing about these pit stops was safe. A last-second panic led to Bottas’s tyres being fitted to Russell’s car. In scenes reminiscent of the shambolic Hamilton pit stop in Germany last year, mechanics ran around as they realised the correct tyres were missing and, after nearly 30 seconds stationary, eventually fitted the old tyres Bottas had arrived on back onto his car. Russell was then forced to come in again for the correct tyres and found himself in fifth, immediately behind Bottas.

Mercedes are so often infallible, but when they mess up…it’s usually calamitous.

Bottas struggled with his old tyres for the rest of the grand prix and Russell soon pulled off an excellent move around the outside of Turn 6. The chance of a stunning victory was still on. It was not long before Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon – in third and second respectively – were dispatched and Russell then set about catching Pérez who, astonishingly, was in the lead.

The Mexican had expertly driven back through the field whilst looking after the tyres in his signature style and was now coaxing a set of hards to the chequered flag. So, which fairy tale was it to be: the youngster winning during his stand-in appearance for Mercedes or the veteran of 190 grands prix finally getting his first win after many an opportunistic podium?

The answer came on lap 78 as Pete Bonnington radioed Russell to say that he had a slow puncture and would have to pit once again. Heartbreak for the 22-year-old as he trundled down the pit lane for a fourth time and rejoined in 15th. He fought bravely and would at least recover to ninth to gain his first ever points, but that will be scant consolation when he could taste a victory in the most extraordinary of circumstances just a few minutes earlier.

Whilst one fairy tale had turned into a nightmare, the other was unfolding perfectly. Pérez extended his lead over the remaining laps and came home to become the first Mexican winner in F1 for half a century. He also now holds the record for the most races contested before a maiden grand prix victory.

Image credit: Motorsport Images

The paddock – whilst clearly gutted for Russell – was overjoyed for ‘Checo’, who struggled to hold back tears as he stood on the top step of the podium and heard his country’s national anthem ring out. It was also joy for Ocon, taking a maiden podium, and Racing Point who – with Stroll also holding onto third – have reclaimed the high ground in the battle with McLaren and Renault for third in the constructors’ standings.

A truly fitting result for the man who was instrumental in saving the team just a couple of years ago.

Uncomfortable Questions to Answer for Bottas

It was a messy weekend for Bottas. He never looked totally at ease with the car around Sakhir’s tricky, bumpy ‘Outer Circuit’ and questions will surely be asked when a stand-in driver from Williams is able to come in and perform at least as well as an established team member of nearly four years.

It appeared that the pressure was getting to Bottas. He always does his best to project the ‘unflappable Finn’ stereotype but we have often seen, when it really counts, he fails to deliver.

Russell clearly did an exceptional job, but Bottas will likely now be secretly hoping that Hamilton is unable to return for Abu Dhabi next weekend so he can have a shot at redemption. With the 2022 Mercedes seat very much available, and Russell surely running out of patience at Williams, those in charge will have some big decisions to make next year. And the young man from King’s Lynn just gave them something to think long and hard about.

Image credit: LAT Images

He may not have got the win he deserved this weekend, but he certainly increased his chances to be competing for many more in the future.

The Sakhir Grand Prix in 60 Seconds

Answering the Burning Questions

Will George Russell seize his chance to impress in the Mercedes? Could he beat Valtteri Bottas?! Absolutely!

How will Pietro Fittipaldi and Jack Aitken fare on their F1 debuts? Both did a solid job throughout the weekend, aside from Aitken’s one mistake, which ironically proved very costly to the man whose car he was borrowing…

With such a short lap, how will qualifying play out? It was surprisingly uneventful.

Will any of the drivers take the ‘regular’ Turn 4 out of habit?.. Sadly not.

2020 Sakhir GP preview

Posted on by James Mackenzie

The Burning Questions

Will George Russell seize his chance to impress in the Mercedes? Could he beat Valtteri Bottas?!

How will Pietro Fittipaldi and Jack Aitken fare on their F1 debuts?

With such a short lap, how will qualifying play out?

Will any of the drivers take the ‘regular’ Turn 4 out of habit?..

The Track

The Stats

Track Length: 3.543 km

Laps: 87

Race Distance: 307.995 km

First Grand Prix: 2020 (Sakhir GP) | 2004 (Bahrain)

Race Lap Record: n/a

Outright Lap Record: n/a

Most Driver Wins: n/a

Most Constructor Wins: n/a

The Weather

The Quotes

Lewis Hamilton | “I’m gutted not to be able to race this weekend but my priority is to follow the protocols and advice and protect others.”

George Russell | “Nobody can replace Lewis, but I’ll give my all for the team in his absence from the moment I step in the car.”

Pietro Fittipaldi | “To race in F1 was my dream since I was a kid and my debut didn’t come in the best circumstances but nonetheless I’m grateful for it and will do my best!”

The Photos

The Predictions

Podium

Pole Position

Fastest Lap

Driver of the Day

2020 Bahrain GP report | Hamilton wins after Grosjean escapes fiery crash

Posted on by James Mackenzie
A truly terrifying moment, but ultimately a miracle escape and a triumph for the halo.
Romain Grosjean escapes a fiery crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Image credit: LAT Images

Lewis Hamilton produced another commanding performance to add an 11th victory to his 2020 tally at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and in doing so matched his personal best in one year despite this truncated season.

But that was not the headline news from Sakhir.

Just three corners into the race, Romain Grosjean speared into the barriers and, upon impact, produced a fireball the likes of which had not been seen in the last three decades of Formula 1.

Grosjean was towards the back of the field as the cars emerged from the first sequence of corners and could see chaos developing in front of him.

Lance Stroll had run well off the track and was bouncing back on from the right-hand side, Kimi Räikkönen was at least as far off the track to the left, coming perilously close to the barriers, and Lando Norris was showering those behind him with sparks from a damaged front wing after contact with Esteban Ocon.

Grosjean’s explanation will hopefully shed more light on the situation eventually, but it would appear that he saw an opportunity to the right of the pack on the run down to Turn 4. Crucially, though, Daniil Kvyat was seemingly in his blind spot. The Frenchman cut across sharply, leaving the AlphaTauri no chance of avoiding contact, and was sent into the barriers in a manner akin to the US police ‘PIT maneuver’.

The twisted wreckage of Romain Grosjean's crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Credit image: XPB Images

The Haas somehow pierced the barrier and split in two behind the driver, leaving the cockpit embedded in the twisted metal. Grosjean miraculously extricated himself from the inferno and a relieved audience was eventually shown images of him sat in the medical car, after a harrowing two-minute period without any information.

The drivers’ on-board footage showed numerous double-takes as they spotted the huge blaze in their mirrors and Charles Leclerc’s radio, in particular, reflected the feelings of most watching on.

Grosjean spent the night in hospital under observation as a precaution, but his injuries appear to be limited to second-degree burns to his hands and feet. Without doubt, the best-case scenario considering the ferocity of the incident.

The Show Must Go On

After a delay of over an hour, whilst the wreckage was dealt with and a new barrier installed, the drivers lined up for a second time.

The order for the second grid was taken from the order at Safety Car Line 2 during the original start. A poor getaway had dropped Valtteri Bottas from second to fourth, with Max Verstappen taking that second place, Sergio Pérez up from fifth to third and Norris up from ninth to seventh.

As he had done at the first time of asking, Hamilton took off from pole position like a rocket and left the rest of the field in his wake. Behind him, most of the drivers held their starting positions, but there would be barely half a lap of racing before another incident brought out the safety car.

Lance Stroll upside down at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Credit image: Getty Images

Kvyat was unfortunately involved again, as a clumsy move up the inside of Stroll resulted in front-to-rear tyre contact and the Racing Point being pitched upside down. Thankfully the Canadian was unhurt and able to climb out, but his run of poor luck – dating back to that tyre failure in Tuscany – continues.

There were no issues for Hamilton at the restart and, from there on, it was simply a case of managing his tyres and keeping the chasing Verstappen at bay. The gap between the two would stick at around five seconds for the remainder of the race, with Verstappen frustrated by some of his team’s strategic decisions but aware that they would likely always have struggled to threaten the World Champion.

Bottas’s day went from bad to worse as he picked up a puncture during the safety car period and dropped to the back of the field. Not for the first time this season, he struggled to make progress through the midfield and ultimately came home eighth; Verstappen has now reduced his deficit in the drivers’ standings to just 12 points.

Pérez looked to be en route to a second consecutive podium, only for his engine to fail in fairly spectacular fashion with just a handful of laps remaining. A disaster for Racing Point in their battle for third in the championship, with the retirement promoting the McLarens of Norris and Carlos Sainz to fourth and fifth – an impressive recovery from the Spaniard who had started 15th after a brake failure in qualifying. Pérez’s misfortune also saw Alexander Albon inherit a spot on the final step of the podium and a much-needed boost in his quest for a Red Bull seat next year.

Sergio Pérez's Bahrain Grand Prix goes up in flames.
Credit image: Wilhelm

For the second time, a stranded Racing Point brought out the safety car, under which the race would finish, but not before there was one final, unnerving moment as a marshal ran across the track in front of Lando Norris. At points, things had started to feel a little too reminiscent of Imola 1994 and it was honestly a relief to see the chequered flag wave with all the drivers and crew intact.

A Triumph for F1 Safety?

Romain Grosjean was able to suffer a 137mph crash – the instant retardation producing an impact measured at a force of 53G – and then immediately crawl from a pile of burning wreckage to safety. That is thanks to years of tireless research and hard work in the pursuit of safety in Formula 1.

Any remaining debate around the halo was emphatically put to bed as it quite clearly saved a life. The photos of the scraped top surface show how Grosjean’s halo effectively parted the gap in the barriers, as the front half of the Haas acted as a £10 million can opener, and spared his helmet that impossible job.

The ever-improving fireproof overalls now provide around 30 seconds of protection and, thankfully, the Frenchman was able to haul himself clear in around 28. Long-term saviours in the shape of the titanium safety cell around the cockpit and the HANS device also played crucial roles in this modern-day miracle.

That being said, this was not quite the unanimous triumph for f1 safety that some have painted it to be.

It was absolutely a freak accident, but questions must be asked about both the quality and placement of the guardrails. We have not seen a car spear through a barrier since the 70s. That situation infamously resulted in the tragic deaths of François Cevert and Helmuth Koinigg in consecutive years at Watkins Glen.

Also, were Grosjean not to have miraculously remained conscious after the initial impact, would the medical team have been able to do enough? FIA doctor Ian Roberts and medical car driver Alan van der Merwe are rightly being lauded for their rapid response and brave contribution, but had Grosjean been unconscious and still strapped into the car, would they have been able to extract him when they aren’t kitted out with even a full-face helmet themselves?

We can, at least, be sure that Formula 1 and the FIA will investigate these matters and learn from any mistakes, as they have done after every major incident in the past.

It is those lessons learnt in the past that saved Romain Grosjean’s life yesterday and both Professor Sid Watkins and Charlie Whiting can look down with great pride upon their legacy and their hand in this story of survival.

The Bahrain Grand Prix in 60 Seconds

Answering the Burning Questions

Who will have the strongest weekend in the battle for third in the Constructors’ Championship? After a painful weekend for Racing Point, McLaren now have a 17-point cushion.

Can Valtteri Bottas bounce back after a tough race in Turkey? …no.

Will Alexander Albon produce a performance worthy of a 2021 Red Bull seat? Whilst still a fair way off Verstappen’s ultimate pace, fourth on the grid and a spot on the podium (inherited or not) is much closer to Red Bull’s expectations.

2020 Bahrain GP preview

Posted on by James Mackenzie

The Burning Questions

Who will have the strongest weekend in the battle for third in the Constructors’ Championship?

Can Valtteri Bottas bounce back after a tough race in Turkey?

Will Alexander Albon produce a performance worthy of a 2021 Red Bull seat?

The Track

The Stats

Track Length: 5.412 km

Laps: 57

Race Distance: 308.238 km

First Grand Prix: 2004

Race Lap Record: Pedro de la Rosa | McLaren | 2005 | 1:31.447

Outright Lap Record: Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 2019 | 1:27.866

Most Driver Wins: Sebastian Vettel | 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018

Most Constructor Wins: Ferrari | 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2018

The Weather

The Quotes

Lewis Hamilton | “It’s not sunk in. I think it’s because I’ve still got three races to go so you’ve still got to kind of keep one foot in the circle and one eye on the ball at least. I’m still in that competitive mindset. Perhaps at the end of the year things will hit home a little bit harder.”

Lewis Hamilton | ” [Being linked to a knighthood] is definitely a surreal experience. But as far as I’m aware, there’s a lot of talk and so not really thought a lot about it. But it would be an incredible honour. There is no greater honour I think than your country recognising you and honouring you with such an award.”

Sergio Pérez | “At the moment the short-term plan is I want to continue in the sport. I think I’m at the peak of my career, I’m 30 years old, so I think I have my best years ahead of me. But it’s not in my hands. So if I’m not here next year I will be at home taking a year out and seeing if I really miss this life and the racing and so on, then take a decision on what I’m going to do next.”

The Photos

The Predictions

Podium

Pole Position

Fastest Lap

Driver of the Day