F1 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix

© J. Francois Barnard – September 13, 2020

It is one week later, and we are still in Italy. This time we visit the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio Della Toscana Ferrari 1000 2020 race held in Mugello on September 13, 2020.

The Tuscan Grand Prix celebrates Ferrari's 1000th race in Formula One. It is also the first time that the Mugello Circuit hosts a Formula 1 race.

The first practice session saw Bottas on top, followed closely by Verstappen and Leclerc. During the second session, Bottas was the first to drop below 1 minute and 17 seconds. Hamilton and Verstappen were behind him. The third session belonged to Bottas again, and Verstappen and Hamilton followed not too far behind him.

The first qualifying session was just a continuation of Bottas showing his strength. Last week's race winner, Gasly, dropped out of the first qualifying session.

In the second session, Norris, Kvyat, Räikkönen, Vettel and Grosjean were all eliminated. Hamilton was on top.

In the third and final session, Mercedes locked out the front row with Hamilton and Bottas. The second row belonged to Red Bull's Verstappen and Albon, followed by Leclerc, Pérez, Stroll, Ricciardo, Sainz and Ocon.

The race started in sunny weather, and Bottas parked his Mercedes at an angle to get the best out of his start. He overtook Hamilton at the first turn, and Verstappen followed close behind the leading Mercedes-pair.

But Verstappen soon found himself in a gravel trap, unable to get out. He was in a collision with Gasly, Räikkönen, and Grosjean. Verstappen and Gasly had to retire from the race. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Sainz, Stroll and Vettel collided, bringing out the safety car.

The safety car came in on lap 6, and while the race leaders slowed down, an accordion effect triggered the backmarkers to collide. It involved Sainz, Magnussen, Giovinazzi, and Latifi. All four retired from the race, and the race was red-flagged.

"That was ________ stupid from whoever was at the front. They want to kill us or what? This is the worst thing I have ever seen!" - Romain Grosjean exclaimed.

Picture credit: Eurosport

In the red flag period, Russell reported that Ocon's brakes were on fire. Ocon had to retire too.

With the second restart, Hamilton got away better to retake the lead from Bottas. Albon was in third, and the two Racing Points were chasing him.

The DRS zone on the finishing straight supplied exciting overtakes as drivers swapped positions. On lap 44 Lance stroll slid off the track, through the gravel and into the barrier. Another safety car was called for, but the race was red-flagged again.

At the restart, there were only twelve cars left in the race. For a while, Danny Ricciardo was in second place, but Bottas passed him, and later Alex Albon did too.

Hamilton won, with Bottas second and Albon third.

The race classification: