The first ever Grand Prix to be held at the Mugello track did not disappoint, unless you happen to be one of the eight drivers that didn’t manage to finish the race. Two multi-car crashes resulted in two red flag periods that split a gruelling race into three segments as the remaining drivers battled it out in the heat of the Italian sun.
Lewis Hamilton predictably crossed the line first, making up for his result at Monza a week prior, but this was perhaps the only predictable part of the maiden Formula 1 race around Mugello. Max Verstappen and Monza winner Pierre Gasly’s Grand Prix lasted just two corners as both drivers collided at turn 2.
The resultant safety car then prompted a huge accident at the lap 7 restart. Carlos Sainz, Antonio Giovinazzi, Kevin Magnussen and Nicholas Latifi were all taken out of the race in a moment of madness. Luckily no-one was hurt. Watch the crash below:
After a destructive afternoon’s drive only 12 drivers remained. Valtteri Bottas came a not so close second to his Mercedes-AMG teammate and now feels that his hopes at a championship this year are fading. On a more positive note, the Red Bull of Alex Albon crossed the line in third place resulting in a first podium for an ecstatic Albon and the first time a Thai flag appeared on an F1 podium. The youngster had podium hopes dashed last year at Brazil as Hamilton controversially collided into his car in the closing laps.
The two Italian stallions of Charles Leclerc and Sebastien Vettel hung on to finish within 10 places and subsequently the points as well at Ferrari’s 1000th race. The fanfare would no doubt be considerable if either red car made a podium finish. However, the Monegasque and German did a good job enduring and indeed surviving Mugello. Leclerc came in at eighth place while Vettel completed the top 10 in 10th, both cars still intact.
Ahead of the eventful first race at Mugello, Formula 1 legend Micheal Schumacher’s son Mick Schumacher took his Ferrari F2004 formula car around the track reminding fans of a by-gone era of V10 engines in nimble speedsters. Just listen to that sound:
Cutting back to the turbo-hybrid era of today, the next race on the F1 calendar will take place after a breather on September 27 at Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix and for the 10th round in what has been an incredible season so far.
Featured image credit F1, Mick Schumacher behind the wheel of his father’s F2004
