Imola: post-race analysis 2021

Bit off-colour, so briefer than usual.

Both bets failed. Annoyingly, again this season, my pace prediction was correct for the Russell bet, he was in the points almost all race long, then a clumsy collision between himself and Bottas put them both out. Meanwhile, Mazepin managed t only have one or two spins and neither put him out.

Off the line Verstappen took the lead and retained it throughout.

Hamilton made a rare error, putting his car into the gravel and knocking the front but doing well to recover it and then being favoured by fortune when the aforementioned Bottas-Russell collision brought out a safety car then red flag and enabled him to eventually claim to 2nd.

Norris had a great day to claim 3rd, with Ricciardo 6th, and Ferrari were 4th and 5th, Leclerc leading the way. Perez made multiple mistakes, including overtaking under the safety car after going into the gravel and assuming he could reclaim lost places (he could not, and received a fair-sized penalty).

Stroll got 7th for Aston Martin, which is good as they had brake problems pre-race and gear syncing problems during it. Gasly was next, then Raikkonen (who may lost it as he’s under investigations for shenanigans). Ocon got the last point.

Because of his fastest lap, Hamilton is on 44 points to Verstappen’s 43. Bottas is 5th, behind Norris and Leclerc.

Morris Dancer

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