Ferrari hope fades with poor decisions
The embattled Ferrari squad looked to have salvaged some honour – or at least to have given the appearance of some improvement – by qualifying fifth and sixth in Hungary. Any hope that
3rd
Mercedes
THE MAIN EVENT
It was touch-and-go for a while, but the Formula 1 world championship will get to celebrate its 70th anniversary at the venue where it all began – and with two races across successive weekends, no less. Like F1 itself, Silverstone has changed beyond recognition since Giuseppe Farina led an Alfa Romeo 1-2-3 on 13 May 1950. Petrol was still rationed in the UK and the track, based on a redundant airfield, was marked out with oil drums and straw bales…
As with the 2020 season-opening rounds, these events will be held behind closed doors. One driver who will feel the absence of fans most keenly is Lewis Hamilton, who has made the Silverstone crowd his own in recent years, having won five of the past six grands prix here.
2019 RACE RECAP
Tactical astuteness and outright pace earned Hamilton the victory over Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who led the early stages from pole position. With identical machinery Hamilton had to try a risky alternate strategy, stopping for tyres just once and refusing an instruction to pit again later in the race.
When Bottas pitted from the lead for another set of medium tyres he locked himself into having to stop again. A Safety Car then enabled Hamilton to pit for hard tyres and emerge into a lead he would not yield. Max Verstappen got the upper hand over both Ferrari drivers in a physical contest for the final podium spot, only to be punted into the gravel by Sebastian Vettel after passing him.
KEY CORNER: TURN 9 Once the first corner on the track, Copse remains a challenge despite the huge downforce developed by the current cars. It’s a blind, fast entry. And although it’s now bordered by asphalt rather than gravel, you can trigger a penalty by straying over the line.
THE WINNERS HERE…
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
THE MAIN EVENT
Barcelona’s status as F1’s testing venue of choice has long been a cause of processional races here, owing to familiarity with the circuit and the teams’ vast archives of historic data. That said, the testing is predominantly conducted in late winter and the Spanish GP has traditionally taken a spring or autumn slot, so a mid-august race offers several unknowns in terms of track conditions.
Temperatures during August are an average of 8°C higher than May, but average rainfall is greater, so eyes will be on the movements of the Jetstream. Despite this being the third race in three weeks for the second time already this season, teams may still choose Spain for any upgrades that are permitted under the new regulations.
2019 RACE RECAP
It was here Ferrari established beyond doubt that its SF90 wasn’t the rocketship pre-season form had suggested it could be. Mercedes introduced a new aero package and ran comfortably to a fifth consecutive 1-2 finish.
Valtteri Bottas made the most of Mercedes’ upgrade package to secure pole by 0.6s, but Lewis Hamilton beat him to the first corner and led thereafter. Ferrari’s drivers tripped over themselves at Turn 1 as Sebastian Vettel flat-spotted a tyre while trying to go past Bottas, then cut back in, forcing Charles Leclerc to take evasive action. As a result, Max Verstappen slipped into third and easily held Vettel at bay while Ferrari dithered over whether to order its drivers to swap places and let Leclerc attack.
KEY CORNER: TURN 10 This is the hardest braking area on the track since it comes at the end of a short downhill straight and is much tighter and slower than Turn 1, requiring drivers to select first gear ahead of a sharp acceleration back uphill.
THE WINNERS HERE…
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes