2020 F1 season review

The 2020 Formula 1 season was originally scheduled for 22 grands prix, including the newly added Vietnam GP and the returning Dutch GP. But due to the start of COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season which originally started from Australian GP in March had been postponed indefinetely. As the result the FIA canceled 12 scheduled grand prix rounds in response of COVID-19 outbreak.

Later on May, FIA announced that the 2020 F1 world championship would be started in July from Austrian GP and announced back-to-back grands prix at the same circuit (Austrian and Styrian GPs at Red Bull Ring, British and 70th Anniversary GPs at Silverstone, and Bahrain and Sakhir GPs at Sakhir International Circuit with different track layout). And in August, FIA announced that the 2020 season will be held for 17 rounds of world championship, including the addition of the newly added Eifel GP in Germany, the Emilia Romagna GP in Italy, and the returning Portuguese and Turkish Grands Prix.

All rounds (except the Tucsan GP, Russian GP, Eifel GP and Portuguese GP which allowed race attendances) were held behind close doors.

1. Austrian GP

The race was won by Valtteri Bottas, as his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton finished fourth by 5-second penalty after his collision with Red Bull's Alexander Albon. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Lando Norris (McLaren) completed the podium.

2. Styrian GP

Both Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc collided in the opening lap of the race, causing them out of the race. Lewis Hamilton picked up his first win of the season, with his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in 2nd, and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in 3rd place.

3. Hungarian GP

Same podium finishers as the Styrian GP, with Hamilton dominating the race, with Verstappen finished 2nd place ahead of Bottas in 3rd.

4. British GP

Tire issues surrounded the final three laps of the race, with both Mercedes drivers Hamilton and Bottas suffered punctures. But Hamilton who led the race in the final lap with punctured tires carried his car on to win the race, before being caught by Verstappen who finished 2nd place in the race without puncture. Leclerc completed the podium in 3rd place.

5. 70th Anniversary GP

Nico Hulkenberg raced for Racing Point as replacement of Sergio Perez who tested positive prior to British GP. Started 3rd on the grid, Hulkenberg scored six points to finish 7th in the race. Verstappen won the race with Hamilton in 2nd and Bottas in 3rd place.

6. Spanish GP

Similar podium finishers as Styrian and Hungarian rounds, with Hamilton winning the race from Verstappen (2nd) and Bottas (3rd).

7. Belgian GP

Hamilton dedicated his pole and win to the late Chadwick Boseman, an American black actor who famously known with his role as superhero Black Panther.

8. Italian GP

Hamilton dominated the early stages of the race, but as Kevin Magnussen's Haas stalled in the pit entry, the safety car was instantly deployed, and at the same time, the pit lane was closed. Hamilton entered the pit lane, but the championship leader didn't realize that the pit lane was closed. As the result, the FIA stewards gave Hamilton a 10-second stop-go penalty, adding two penalty points to his FIA super license. The race was won by the 24 year-old Frenchman Pierre Gasly who gave AlphaTauri (previously Toro Rosso) the team's 2nd win since Sebastian Vettel at the same GP in 2008. Carlos Sainz (McLaren) and Lance Stroll (Racing Point) picked up the podium positions in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

9. Tuscan GP

The race marked Ferrari's 1000th race in F1 since 1950, with both Ferrari drivers scored points, not podium. Hamilton won the race from Bottas, with Albon taking his maiden podium in third place.

10. Russian GP

Lewis Hamilton attempted to equal Michael Schumacher's record of 91 F1 grand prix wins, but he wasted the opportunity after he found guilty during pre-race practice start procedure. Hamilton was later served a 10-second stop-go penalty for his mistake, and finished 3rd in the race behind Verstappen and race winner Bottas.

11. Eifel GP

Hamilton successfully equaled Schumacher's record of 91 race wins by winning the race from Verstappen in 2nd place. Daniel Ricciardo finished 3rd place to score his first podium with Renault.

12. Portuguese GP

14 years since Schumacher set his new record of 91 F1 grand prix wins, Hamilton has broke that record in front of 27,000 fans watching the race.

13. Emilia Romagna GP

The Mercedes team are successfully crowned the constructors champions for seventh consecutive years after both Red Bull drivers failed to score points in the race.

14. Turkish GP

Hamilton sealed his seventh world title after winning the chaotic wet race.

15. Bahrain GP

It was the career-ending race for Romain Grosjean, after the Frenchman hitted his Haas-Ferrari heavily to the wall, causing his car fully caught on fire, as Grosjean successfully survived from his career-ending incident. The race itself was won by Hamilton

16. Sakhir GP

George Russell replaced Hamilton, who tested positive of COVID-19, but the pit-stop mistakes threw his podium chances away.

Perez won the race from the back of the safety car restart after the Mexican was being involved in a collision with Leclerc and Verstappen.

17. Abu Dhabi GP

The race shows Verstappen's dominance from start to finish, and his win guaranteed him a third place finish in the drivers championship.

2020 Formula 1 world championship final standings

A. Drivers

1. Lewis Hamilton (c)

2. Valtteri Bottas

3. Max Verstappen

4. Sergio Perez

5. Daniel Ricciardo

6. Carlos Sainz Jr.

7. Alex Albon

8. Charles Leclerc

9. Lando Norris

10. Pierre Gasly

11. Lance Stroll

12. Esteban Ocon

13. Sebastian Vettel

14. Daniil Kvyat

15. Nico Hulkenberg*

16. Kimi Raikkonen

17. Antonio Giovinazzi

18. George Russell**

19. Romain Grosjean

20. Kevin Magnussen

21. Nicholas Latifi***

22. Jack Aitken*

23. Pietro Fittipaldi*

* replacement driver

** Russell drove for Williams in all rounds except round 16 (Sakhir GP) where he was driven for Mercedes

*** rookie

B. Constructors

1. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team (c)

2. Red Bull Racing

3. McLaren

4. Racing Point F1 Team*

5. Renault F1 Team

6. Scuderia Ferrari

7. Scuderia AlphaTauri

8. Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen

9. Haas F1 Team

10. Williams Grand Prix Engineering

*Racing Point was deducted 15 points after a protest from Renault was upheld regarding the legality of their car (RP20)

So, who will be crowned the F1 champion in 2021? Can Hamilton win his eight title? Or will be a new champion crowned next season?