• F1, Bahrain GP: Haas broken in two, Grosjean is saved in the flames

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29 November 2020 Lewis Hamilton is in a dramatic Bahrain GP.

The British 'cannibal' of Mercedes, fresh from winning the seventh world title in Turkey, on the Sakhir track obtains the victory number 95 in his career in a race marked by the terrible accident that saw Grosjean involved on the first lap.

On the podium on either side of Lewis are the Red Bulls of Dutchman Max Verstappen and Thai Alexander Albon.

Fourth and fifth place for the McLarens of the British Lando Norris and the Spanish Carlos Sainz.

Sixth the transalpine Pierre Gasly on Alpha Tauri, then Ricciardo (Aus) who with Renault precedes the other Mercedes of Bottas, only eighth.

Ferrari behind, with the Monegasque Charles Leclerc who closes in the points thanks to the retirement in the third last lap of Perez and closes tenth, while the German Sebastian Vettel is only thirteenth.



Tremendous start to the race.

During the first lap, after a few corners, Grosjean's frightening accident: his Haas, after a contact with Kvyat, ran into the barriers at full speed, breaking in two and catching fire due to the spill of petrol.

Miraculously, the French driver, despite being stunned, managed to jump out of the cockpit surrounded by flames, also helped by the doctors who promptly rushed to the point, as well as the track staff with fire extinguishers.

Then, on his legs, he is mounted in an ambulance to go to the medical center of the track.

According to initial reports, Grosjean reported burns to his hands and ankles with suspected rib fractures.

For this reason he was transported by air ambulance to the military hospital in Manama.   



With the images of Grosjean's accident still in his eyes, he starts again.

But, once again, the race lasts a few corners, as Stroll touches himself with Kvyat's Alpha Tauri and overturns.

No consequences, even on this occasion, for the driver who has to retire.

Yellow flags, then the safety car on the track from the third to the eighth lap.

When he leaves the track, Hamilton controls Verstappen, second.

Then Perez, third, ahead of Albon.

Distant Leclerc struggles to maintain his position but must yield first to Sainz and then to Ricciardo.

In difficulty Vettel, in the rear.

Bottas, who with the safety on the track, changes the tires and returns to the back of everyone, but then goes back up and in the end will finish eighth.



Off to the pit stop festival.

At the 20th lap, the leader Hamilton makes his and returns to the lead.

Excellent performance by Sainz on McLaren which, to the sound of overtaking, moves to sixth place behind his teammate, Norris and the Red Bull of Albon.

Second round of pit stops for Verstappen, Hamilton and then, gradually, all the others.

With 10 laps from the end, Hamilton drives on Verstappen, Perez, Albon, Norris, Gasly, Sainz and Ricciardo, eighth.

Ferrari in trouble with Leclerc eleventh and Vettel fifteenth.

For Verstappen comes even the third stop.

But Hamilton holds and, without giving up, flies to the finish line.

Three laps from the end, Sergio Perez's Racing Point goes up in smoke (and then in flames ...).

The safety car returns to the track for the second time and thus accompanies Hamilton towards triumph number 95.