Verstappen defeats Hamilton in thrilling, red-flagged grand prix as Norris snags respectable P3.
P1 – VER
P2 – HAM
P3 – NOR
Podium Finishers
After securing pole position in Saturday’s qualifying, Lewis Hamilton had a rollercoaster of a race as rain fell on Sunday. Verstappen had a mighty start, which saw him skyrocket past Hamilton from P3 to P1.
Hamilton’s race was far from over, as he briefly reclaimed P1 during Verstappen’s pit stop for medium tires. After a slow pit at the Mercedes garage, he lost the lead. A heart-attack of a lock-up on lap 31 saw Hamilton drop to P8.
Red-flag conditions oddly saved Hamilton as the Briton gained ground following the rolling restart, ultimately passing Charles Leclerc to make it back onto the podium.
McLaren’s Lando Norris had another sensational race. The brit drove from P7 to P3, earning him a well-deserved Driver of the Day from fans across the globe.
Best of the Rest
It was a bittersweet race for Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc. He nearly secured a podium finish before being overtaken by the McLaren of Lando Norris.
The Ferrari garage shouldn’t be in terrible spirits, though, as the new teammates don’t seem to need much time to heat up. The dynamic duo of Leclerc and Sainz secured P4 and P5, holding off Aussie Daniel Ricciardo.
Lance Stroll continued to show his finesse in wet conditions with a respectable P7 finish for Aston Martin. The Alpha Tauri of Pierre Gasly managed P8 after a disastrous start on wet tires. A post-race penalty for Stroll swapped standings between the two drivers, which will surely be critical for the constructor’s standings.
The Alpine drivers of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten, thanks to the unfortunate tussel between Bottas and Russell and an infringement from Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen.
It was a day to forget for the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, who was hit with a 10-second penalty for overtaking the safety car and spun out at the Villeneuve Chicane on lap 38.
Drama Brewing?
Mercedes’ woes didn’t end as fans saw an hair-raising crash between Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, and the Williams of fellow Brit, George Russell. Relief was audible as both drivers walked away from the crash, although both were understandably furious at the events taken place.
Certainly team principal Toto Wolff will have words with both drivers who naturally want the second Mercedes seat for the 2022 season.
Looking Ahead
It’s only two races into the season and we are foaming at the mouth for more action! It’s lights out in two weeks as we kick off what’s sure to be a nail biting double header in Portugal.
