I watched the F1 race on my phone and computer over the past few days. Unfortunately I didn't see it live due to the time difference but it was an absolute cracking race.
Even in qualifying Bottas had pole and ran wide causing other drivers to slow down under yellow flags. It could be an innocent coincidence that Bottas happened to run wide after setting a great time or it could be a leaf from Nico Rosberg's strategy book at using tricks and walking the line of what is and isn't legal to win. I distinctly remember Rosberg running off in Monaco to slow Hamilton.
It worked for Bottas deliberate or not. Hamilton didn't slow under yellows but stewards didn't have footage or enough until the next day. At first they ruled Hamilton was ok, no grid penalty on Saturday but footage emerged and red bull appealed and it was decided that Hamilton ignored the yellows and would get a grid penalty to start the race from 5th instead of 2nd.
During the race Hamilton gained position and was within a second of Rosberg at various times. Lots of cars had issues and retirements were a plenty. Safety car was out 3 times and this helped other drivers gain back 10 seconds + time lost to Mercedes. After the second of three safety cars Albon directly behind Hamilton had fresh tires and Hamilton did not (neither did Bottas). Albon got by Hamilton and Hamilton turned into Albon's back wheel while Albon clearly was ahead by at least a wheel's length. Albon spun onto the grass and regained position in last place. 12th at the time I believe.
Hamilton got a deserved 5 second time penalty for causing a crash, and this meant LeClerc who passed Sainz, Norris and Perez for third in the late stages hot boosted up to 2nd.
Hamilton was around 6.5 seconds ahead of Norris in 4th with a few laps to go but Lando set the fastest lap of the race and finished 4.8 seconds off Hamilton, winning his first F1 podium in the process. I was delighted for him. The above final screenshot shows the pink row, indicating fastest lap and 1 additional point also.
Overall Bottas and Hamilton had to manage cars damaged by the kerbs just like other drivers in the race but Hamilton made the Albon error and Bottas was flawless.
LeClerc and Norris were unbelievable also.
I don't know if Hamilton will walk this season. I think a few more races like this one and it will look like a new winner will be crowned F1 2020 world champion.
Final thoughts are that the Hamilton penalty seemed too lenient and Albon will have to mature and be more careful when he has an advantage to make it work and don't allow someone to close the door and end your race.
Williams almost got a point with Latifi finishing 11th out of 11 in his first F1 race.
Most of everyone who crashed out had reliability issues.
Qualifying this season could be more important than ever because if you have reliability and no traffic then you have the advantage over the hungry competitors taking risks behind you.
The screenshots are obviously taken from the stream I watched and are property of the F1 media rights holders.
The race was so entertaining due to so many changes and unexpected failures in reliability and obviously close overtaking maneuvers.
Race highlights from official F1 YouTube channel:
