70th Anniversary GP 2020

AUGUST 9, 2020

Race Notes - Verstappen takes Silverstone anniversary GP

Max Verstappen, 70th Anniversary GP 2020
© Red Bull

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen won the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone today in his Red Bull-Honda, 11.326 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes GP, and 19.231 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas in third place.

It is Verstappen’s ninth career race win, and Red Bull’s first for the 2020 season. Hamilton’s second place finish was his 155th podium appearence, tying him for the record with Michael Schumacher. Hamilton now leads the Championship by 30 points over Verstappen and Bottas.

Charles Leclerc (29.289s) in the Ferrari was fourth, followed by Alex Albon (39.146s) in the second Red Bull in fifth, Lance Stroll (42.538s) in the Racing Point-Mercedes was sixth, Nico Hulkenberg (55.951s) in the second Racing Point was seventh, Esteban Ocon (1m04.773s) in the Renault was eighth, Lando Norris (1m05.544s) in the McLaren-Renault was ninth and Daniil Kvyat (1m09.669s) in the AlphaTauri-Honda was tenth.

Before the start Bottas sits on pole with Hamilton alongside on the front row, Hulkenberg and Verstappen (on hard tyres) on row two, Ricciardo and Stroll on row three, Gasly and Leclerc on row four, and Albon and Norris rounding out the top ten.

As the start lights go out Bottas gets off in the lead with Hamilton, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Ricciardo, Gasly, Norris, Albon and Leclerc following. Vettel spins and runs last.

Hamilton follows within a second of Bottas in the lead.

The Mercedes team informs Bottas that his tyre tempetures are running hot.

On lap 7 Albon pits and changes from medium to hard tyres and rejoins last.

Gasly pits as well for hard tyres, and he rejoins in 18th.

On lap 10 Magnussen and Latifi pit for hard tyres.

At lap 10 Bottas leads Hamilton by 1.1 seconds, followed by Verstappen (2.1s), Hulkenberg (10.3s), Stroll (12.7s), Ricciardo (14.7s), Norris (18.2s), Leclerc (19.5s), Sainz (23.3s) and Ocon (28.9s) in tenth place.

On lap 12 Hamilton complains that his rear tyres are worn out.

Norris pits from seventh and takes on hard tyres and rejoins 13th.

Verstappen closes on Hamilton in second.

On lap 14 Bottas pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins in sixth - Hamilton takes over the lead.

On the next lap Hamilton pits for hard tyres and rejoins in sixth,

Albon passes Raikkonen on the outside for 15th.

On lap 15 Hulkenberg pits for hard tyres and rejoins in seventh.

Bottas sets fast lap at 1m30.971s.

Verstappen leads Stroll, Bottas, Hamiton and Leclerc.

Bottas sets another fast lap at 1m30.850s.

Vettel passes Grosjean for 11th.

On lap 18 Stroll pits from second for hard tyres and rejoins in sixth.

Leclerc pits as well and rejoins in 12th.

Gasly passes Albon for 13th. Kvyat pits.

At lap 20 Verstappen leads Bottas by 13.6 seconds, followed by Hamilton (16.7s), Sainz (28.4s), Hulkenberg (29.3s), Stroll (31.9s), Ocon (35.7s), Ricciardo (37.5s), Vettel (40.4s) and Leclerc (42.2s) in tenth.

On lap 21 Albon passes Gasly for 12th.

Hulkenberg chases Sainz in fourth.

On lap 22 Sainz, Ocon and Vettel all pit. Sainz rejoins in 13th.

Verstappen continues to lap faster than the two Mercedes, with a 17 second lead.

Hamilton complains he is struggling on his tyres, he is 23 seconds behind the leader.

On lap 26 Verstappen pits from the lead and changes to medium tyres and rejoins in second place right behind Bottas.

Verstappen charges on new tyres and passes Bottas for the lead again.

Ricciardo pits for hard tyres and rejoins in 11th.

Albon chases Norris and passes him for seventh.

Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m30.804s.

Magnussen is handed a 5-second penalty for touching Latifi.

Norris pits for hard tyres and rejoins 13th.

On lap 30 Hulkenberg and Albon pit for hard tyres.

At lap 30 Verstappen leads Bottas by 1.9 seconds, followed by Hamilton (7.9s), Stroll (18.9s), Leclerc (22.9s), Hulkenberg (36.4s), Kvyat (49.3s), Ocon (51.2s), Sainz (45.1s) and Vettel (45.9s) in tenth.

On lap 31 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m30.361s.

Stroll pits from fourth for hard tyres an rejoins in sixth.

On lap 33 Verstappen pits for hard tyres and rejoins in second place behind Hamilton, who is still complaing that his rear tyres are blistering.

On lap 34 Vettel pits for medium tyres.

On lap 35 Sainz pits for hard tyres and rejoins in 14th. Kvyat pits along with Ricciardo.

Albon passes Ocon for eighth.

Red Bull is debating with Verstappen whether their medium tyres will last until the finish - Verstappen is lapping half a second slower than the Mercedes.

On lap 37 Albon sets fast lap at 1m30.103s.

At lap 40 Hamilton leads Verstappen by 9.0s, followed by Bottas (12.3s), Leclerc (13.7s), Hulkenberg (29.2s), Stroll (31.3s), Albon (44.1s), Ocon (56.1s), Norris (57.9s) and Kvyat (56.3s) in tenth.

On lap 42 Hamilton pits from the lead for hard tyres, and rejoins in fourth. Verstappen leads Bottas, Leclerc and Hamilton.

On lap 41 Albon sets fast lap at 1m29.899s.

On lap 43 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m28.451s, and trails Verstappen in the lead by 9.2 seconds.

On lap 45 Hulkenberg pits from fifth for soft tyres and rejoins in seventh.

On lap 45 Hamilton passes Leclerc for third place.

Magnussen retires in the pits.

At lap 50 Hamilton challenges Bottas and passes him for second place on the Wellington straight.

At lap 50 Verstappen leads Hamilton by 8.8 seconds, followed by Bottas (11.0s), Leclerc (24.1s), Stroll (38.6s), Albon (39.1s), Hulkenberg (54.2s), Ocon (62.1s), Norris (64.3s) and Kvyat (69.4s) in tenth place.

Albon passes Stroll for fifth place.

At the line Verstappen wins ahead of Hamilton and Bottas.