Austrian Grand Prix
The 2020 Formula 1 season began with a bang as the Austrian Grand Prix provided some amazing racing action at the Red Bull Ring.
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas led from start to finish as he took the chequered flag, but there were all sorts of drama that went on behind him.
Team-mate and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton finished in second but dropped down to fourth after he was hit with a five-second penalty for his part in a late collision.
As a result, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rose to second, while McLaren’s Lando Norris grabbed his first-career F1 podium finish.
Read on below as SBOBET rounds up all of the main stories that have emerged from the first race of the F1 season.
Bottas once again claims season-opening win
Valtteri Bottas has done it again. The Finn, who started last year by winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, led from start to finish to win the Austrian Grand Prix.
It was anything but an easy drive for Bottas, though. Not only did he have to fend off the challenge from team-mate and world champion Lewis Hamilton, who started in second, but he also had to overcome three safety car restarts.
“There was definitely quite a bit of pressure. One safety car was OK but by the last I was like, ‘Come on – again?”’ a relieved Bottas said after the race. ”There were so many opportunities for Lewis to take the lead if I made a small mistake and he was really quick today. But I managed to keep it together, could really control the race from my side, and there’s obviously no better way to start the season.”
Bottas has now won eight races in his F1 career and picked up his second win in Austria. He first won in 2017, which was the last time Mercedes had claimed the chequered flag at Red Bull Ring.
Hamilton knocked off podium after time penalty
The Austrian Grand Prix 2020 odds had Lewis Hamilton slated as the favourite, but the Briton — who hadn’t won the race since 2016 — would have another tough time at the Red Bull Ring.
Hamilton’s struggles began in qualifying as Bottas pipped him for pole. Hamilton had to settle for second and was fortunate not to drop further down the grid after being investigated for a penalty.
However, Hamilton’s luck would run out as he suffered a collision with Red Bull’s Alex Albon towards the end of the race. Hamilton came away from the coming together relatively unscathed and was still able to finish in second.
But after a post-race investigation, the stewards concluded that Hamilton was primarily at fault for the crash. He was handed a five-second penalty, which saw him slide down to fourth place.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff claimed the penalty on Hamilton was “too harsh” although Red Bull boss Christian Horner was adamant Hamilton was at fault and owed Albon an apology.
Lando Norris lands first career F1 podium
Hamilton’s penalty opened the door for another Brit, McLaren’s Lando Norris, to take a step on the podium for the first time in his career.
The 20-year-old made Austrian Grand Prix 2020 highlights as he overcame the pressure from team-mate Carlos Sainz, then pushed past Sergio Perez in the last few laps.
“There were a few points where I thought I’d fudged it up a bit,” Norris said after the race. “I dropped to fifth with a few laps to go, Carlos was almost going to get past me. But I didn’t give up and I managed to get past Perez and ended up on the podium.
“Considering where we were a few years ago to now, I think it’s a pretty good achievement, so I’m proud to be part of it.”
McLaren have now had two podium finishes in the last three races; incoming Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. also finished third in last season’s penultimate race, the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen vexed by early retirement
Although, Norris may not have been in the running for a podium finish at all if Max Verstappen hadn’t suffered a surprise retirement early in the race.
The Red Bull driver, who was gunning for his third straight win at his team’s home race, was riding high in second but quickly dropped due to an electrical failure which saw him bow out.
Verstappen was understandably disappointed at the lost opportunity to pick up a podium finish, but he acknowledges that it’s now in the past.
“I’m not quite sure what happened yet, we’ll investigate and find out but of course that’s not how you want to start the season,” Verstappen said.
“I think it would have been an easy podium and third would have been a decent start to the season but what can you do? This is racing and it is what it is, you can’t change the result now.”
Verstappen and Red Bull won’t have to wait long to redeem themselves, though, as the Red Bull Ring is set to host its second race next weekend.
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