F1 News
The 2020 Silverstone Grand Prix: Verstappen sees Hamilton win on three tyres
- GPblog.com
The British Grand Prix is on the program this weekend. If this Sunday's race will be as spectacular as last year's, then many fans will not have much to complain about. Lewis Hamilton won just before Max Verstappen, but the way he did was bizarre.
Mercedes were dominant on Friday and Saturday, and as a result, Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were on the front row of the grid at the start of the race. Verstappen had to make do with third place, as so often last year. Neither Mercedes car was troubled at the start, but Verstappen was immediately under pressure from Charles Leclerc.
This attack was thwarted, so the top three remained unchanged throughout the race. Behind them, many cars crashed out. Nico Hulkenberg, who replaced Sergio Perez who was ill, retired on the first lap. In fact, he did not even start the race. Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Kvyat also failed to finish.
Final phase full of blowouts
Bottas had dropped from second to eleventh place in the closing stages of the race due to a flat tyre, and he wasn't the only one. Carlos Sainz also suffered a puncture in the final stages of the race and race leader Lewis Hamilton, 30 seconds ahead of Verstappen, was also forced to retire on the final lap.
It was just not enough for Verstappen to win the race in the last lap. Hamilton crossed the line with three tires and kept five seconds of his lead. Verstappen had to make do with second place, which given Mercedes' dominance that day was not a bad result.