Mugello (Italy) (AFP)

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) won on Sunday at the Mugello circuit a chaotic and historic Tuscan Grand Prix, twice interrupted by a red flag, which allows him to come within a length of Michael Schumacher.

"Schumi" had won 91 times in F1, but never at Ferrari-owned Mugello, for the good reason that he had never hosted a GP.

More than ever the leader in the world championship standings, Hamilton is at 90 victories thanks to this first GP of Tuscany in the history of F1, added to the 2020 calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) and Alexander Albon (Red Bull) complete the podium on this track which had never before hosted an F1 GP, in 70 years of history.

This is the young Thai's first podium, for his 24th start in the premier class.

At the end of a race marked by two interruptions due to accidents and numerous retirements, including Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Mercedes' only constant rival, and Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), the surprise winner of the last GP at Monza A week ago.

With this 6th victory in 2020, in nine rounds, the six-time British world champion takes his lead to 52 points over Bottas in the World Championship standings.

It was the 1000th F1 GP in the history of Scuderia Ferrari and, as the 3,000 tifosi spread over three grandstands on the Italian circuit might fear, there was no miracle: Charles Leclerc, who nevertheless started from the 5th place on the grid, finished only 8th, and Sebastian Vettel 10th.

Little consolation, the Ferraris are among the twelve single-seaters that have managed to cross the finish line at Mugello, this "old-fashioned" track that the drivers really appreciated.

- Renault at the foot of the podium, because of Albon -

Renault still escaped the podium, as Daniel Ricciardo finished 4th, after a last "sprint" of 12 laps, for 12 cars, following a third start, after two red flags and more than two hours of suspense.

The first incident involved several single-seaters, including Max Verstappen's Red Bull which started in 3rd position.

The Dutchman, victim of a loss of power, plummeted in the standings in a few turns.

Pierre Gasly, 16th on the grid but a surprise winner at Monza a week ago, then found himself sandwiched between Kimi Räikkönen's Alfa and Romain Grosjean's Haas.

The incident forced Verstappen and Gasly to abandon.

"I was between Grosjean and Giovinazzi and I couldn't do anything. It's really disappointing. The tests went well. We missed our qualification but we knew why. We thought we could come back. I was confident for back up, I'm really disappointed, "responded the Frenchman.

At almost the same time, Vettel crashed into Carlos Sainz's McLaren, which had started spinning.

After eight laps under the safety car regime Bottas, who had got off to a better start than Hamilton, led the way.

But on lap 9, as the safety car pulled away, the Finn chose not to accelerate, causing the other drivers to misunderstand and a big pile-up.

Direct consequence, the abandonments of Latifi, Magnussen, Giovinazzi, Sainz, and a red flag.

A second start was then given, with 51 laps to cover.

And Hamilton immediately took the lead, but on lap 43, as the battle raged for a podium place, the violent crash of Lance Stroll (Racing Point), who then caught fire, caused a second red flag.

This last sprint was generally less hectic, with the exception of Ricciardo overtaking Albon for his first podium in F1.

History too.

© 2020 AFP