Tuscan Grand Prix
The ninth round of the Formula One championship will see your favourite cars and drivers in a new and unfamiliar territory.
The Mugello circuit will be the main arena for the first-ever Tuscan Grand Prix, and it is unclear on who will have the definitive edge heading into this weekend.
But if recency bias will be used, perhaps we can recall on what happened during the Italian Grand Prix.
Ferrari may not have recaptured their home magic back, but the race ended up crowning unexpected winners.
In what was one of the wildest races ever, it was Pierre Gasly who emerged on top – towing AlphaTauri to their first-ever win in over 12 years, coincindentally at the same circuit.
Current McLaren and Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz Jr. finished second while Racing Point’s Lance Stroll was third.
These three young drivers hold significant momentum as they head on over to the picturesque Tuscany, but can they replicate their efforts last weekend?
SBOTOP previews that and more as we dish out the latest Tuscan Grand Prix 2020 updates.
Mercedes ready to make a statement
The Silver Arrows will look to get back on track as they recover from a forgetful performance in Monza.
Lewis Hamilton should’ve won the race easily, but an avoidable mistake derailed his hopes to win his sixth in the last seven races.
The British driver appeared to be on his way for another victory up until Kevin Magnussen’s Haas suddenly pulled up near the rear pit lane entry which brought out the safety car, forcing the pit stops to be shut.
Hamilton committed to the pits despite receiving a message from his race engineer to stay out, and it was already too late. Because of this, he was meted a 10-second stop/go penalty which cost him the race.
On the other hand, Valtteri Bottas’ struggles continue as he had a bad start, and he ended up being in fifth place.
Despite having lost momentum that they built in the last few races, Mercedes remain on top in both the drivers and constructors standings.
They have a reason to be confident as their power unit is still a huge advantage for them. The aerodynamics of the W11 should do well in medium-speed turns and high-speed corners in Mugello.
AlphaTauri, McLaren, Racing Point looking to capitalise momentum
AlphaTauri, McLaren, and Racing Point had a race to remember in Monza as they’ve finished in the podium for the first time in a long while.
Especially with Formula One being a sport based on momentum, these three constructors are expected to contend for podium spots in Mugello.
However, they would need more than skill to have a chance.
Given the circuit’s abrasive surface and unpredictable weather, they have to thread carefully on which tyres to use.
If they can avoid the mishaps that have happened back in Silverstone, personally, I wouldn’t rule out a repeat scenario from Monza.
Sebastian Vettel’s next move confirmed
After weeks of speculation, Sebastian Vettel has finally found a new home for the next campaign.
The beleaguered driver is set to represent Aston Martin Racing, which is a rebrand from Racing Point effective next year.
The four-time Formula One champion is expected to take Sergio Perez’s place after the latter made his shock announcement that he will leave the club next term.
Vettel has had an uncompetitive campaign since the season restart. He wasn’t given the extension that he wanted to stay in Ferrari, and that probably affected his performance so far.
With his future now secured, Vettel is no longer distracted and he can enjoy his final few months driving for the Prancing Horse.
History
The Mugello circuit near the city of Florence actually was one of the main arenas for the Italian Motor Grand Prix.
Although it has yet to host a Formula One race, the Mugello circuit served as a test venue before.
In 2004, former Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello aced this track with an unofficial record of 1:18.704, and it is widely expected that it will be broken come this weekend.
What are the odds?
For most of the 2020 season, Lewis Hamilton has been backed by the betting odds to win However, the Mugello circuit represents the unknown to where drivers look to start with a clean slate.
Upon checking the latest Tuscan Grand Prix 2020 odds, Pierre Gasly and Lewis Hamilton own the highest odds to win at 1.35 while Carlos Sainz Jr. is priced at 1.85.
Overall, it’s hard to predict on who will win this one. However, I would lean more to a win by Lewis Hamilton because of his dominance in securing the pole position.
Hamilton leads the pole battle in 2020 at 6-2.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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