In a race dominated by tyres and technique, Hamilton swept previous Mercedes workforce mate Valtteri Bottas to take second place late within the race and keep 30 factors clear within the standings.
Six occasions world champion Hamilton, who gained an additional level for quickest lap, additionally equalled Ferrari nice Michael Schumacher’s file of 155 profession podium finishes.
A primary win of 2020 for @Max33Verstappen ! 🏆#F170 🇬🇧 #F1 pic.twitter.com/PvFu3f4T5z
— Method 1 (@F1) August 9, 2020
“I didn’t see it coming, however after the primary stint it appeared like we had been actually good on tyres,” mentioned Verstappen as he celebrated his ninth win that left him with 77 factors to Hamilton’s 107.
“In fact there was a query mark how Mercedes had been going to go on the onerous tyre. We had a number of tempo within the automotive and I didn’t actually have a number of tyre points in any respect. We simply saved pushing.”
Bottas dropped to 3rd total on 73 factors after beginning on pole place in a race once more run with out spectators as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a workforce we had been sleeping in some unspecified time in the future when Max managed to get forward of us and my technique was far, removed from very best. Tons to study from in the present day, I believe,” mentioned the Finn.
Mercedes had gained the 4 earlier races, and brought each pole, however Verstappen was alone among the many high 10 on the grid to start out on the onerous tyres and it paid off.
DRIVER STANDINGS – AFTER ROUND FIVE 🏆
Race winner Verstappen jumps as much as P2
Leclerc jumps as much as P4#F170 🇬🇧 #F1 pic.twitter.com/7PRuD73l8N
— Method 1 (@F1) August 9, 2020
The champions had been aware that Hamilton and Bottas had each suffered late blowouts on the earlier weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, when Hamilton gained on three wheels, in attempting to eke out a one-stopper.
Pirelli had introduced softer tyres this time, forcing a change of technique, and Mercedes had been in poor health relaxed in a fast-changing two-stop race.
Purple Bull piled on the stress, forcing Hamilton right into a second pitstop with 11 laps to go when he was main and seemed like he may be contemplating a one-stopper on closely blistered tyres.
“We haven’t actually had a chance in all of the races thus far to push them and I might see we had been pushing them. I attempted to place the stress on, they needed to pit, I did my very own tempo,” mentioned Verstappen.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth, forward of Purple Bull’s Alexander Albon and the Racing Factors of Lance Stroll and stand-in Nico Hulkenberg.
Renault’s Esteban Ocon was eighth with McLaren’s Lando Norris ninth and Russian Daniil Kvyat taking the ultimate level for AlphaTauri.
